LYDENBURG – “Papa! Papa! I am dying,” a patient at the Lydenburg Hospital cried out in pain.
The birth of Ms Mogaleadi Makgopa’s first baby turned out to be a nightmare due to poor service delivery.
She was in labour from Wednesday morning and the doctor on duty only responded to her at midnight. She visited the hospital on Monday February 1 as she had suffered a premature rupture of a membrane that night.
According to her father, Mr Elmon Makgopa, the Apgar score (first test given to newborn) of the baby was below 10 after birth. “My daughter was in hospital from Monday and on Wednesday morning her labour pains started. When they examined her they discovered that it was a breach presentation.”
He enquired with the night staff during his visit to her and was told that they had already informed the doctor on duty. “To my surprise I sat there from 19:00 to 22:00 but the doctor did not turn up while my daughter was in terrible pain. They contacted the doctor again. He claimed he was in casualty, however, when I went there they said he told them that he was in the maternity section. I kept running from one side to the other but could not find him.”
He claimed he was in casualty, however, when I went there they said he told them that he was in the maternity section. I kept running from one side to the other but could not find him.”
Meanwhile Makgopa also contacted a private doctor for assistance as well as the CEO of the hospital.
Several hours later the doctor arrived at casualty and started attending to patients who were waiting there. “When he finally went to the maternity section and saw my daughter, he realised that it was indeed an emergency case. He started calling other doctors to assist him. They started with the operation at 00:00 and the baby was delivered at 00:20,” said Makgopa.
When Steelburger/Lydenburg News contacted the Mpumalanga Department of Health about the incident, their response was that they were currently investigating the matter.
“The department received a complaint about the poor management of a patient at Lydenburg Hospital and an investigation is underway to prevent it from happening again. Disciplinary action will be taken against those found to be in the wrong. The CEO of the hospital spoke to the family and the investigation’s outcome will be forwarded to them.”
