Detachment of baby’s head during birth to be investigated

The Gauteng health department has pledged to take disciplinary action, if necessary, after it emerged that a 19-year-old woman allegedly watched as her baby’s head detached from its body while she was in labour at Tambo Memorial Hospital in Johannesburg.

The woman was then reportedly made to wait for 24 hours before the rest of her baby’s body was removed from her womb.

Outraged by this, the DA’s health spokesperson Jack Bloom called for an independent investigation, saying it had to be explained “why this case was not treated as an emergency and a caesarean section performed”.

He said that particular ward at the Tambo Memorial Hospital had been under fire previously because of an alarming increase in baby deaths.

Bloom said: “Baby deaths at this ward increased alarmingly last year when expectant mothers were diverted there in large numbers because the neonatal ward at Thelle Mogoerane Hospital in Vosloorus was closed after a klebsiella outbreak.

“We also need to know what is being done about overcrowding in the hospital’s 30-bed neonatal ward.

“The public needs to be assured that this ward is properly staffed and equipped, with quality care for all patients.”

The Gauteng health department acknowledged the latest incident in a statement yesterday. It said the provincial patients’ safety team was immediately dispatched to carry out a thorough investigation and get all the facts from the medical team on duty at the time.

Spokesperson Lesemang Matuka said: “If necessary, disciplinary measures will be instituted.

“The hospital continues to offer counselling support to the patient and her family to help them deal with this unfortunate incident.”

Matuka also urged patients to report complaints to either the department’s 24-hour call centre, or to facility managers or quality assurance officers at health institutions.

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