As a result of 10 741 serious adverse events (SAEs) which largely arise from avoidable medical negligence, a total of 3 832 patients died last year in Gauteng public hospitals.

An SAE is an event that results in unintended harm to the patient by an act of commission or omission rather than by the underlying disease or condition of the patient. This information was disclosed by Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku in a written reply to DA Gauteng health spokesperson Jack Bloom’s questions in the Gauteng legislature.

According to Bloom, hospitals with the most recorded SAEs were:

– Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital: 1 763;

– Steve Biko Hospital: 893;

– George Mukhari Hospital: 766;

– Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital: 722;

– Helen Joseph Hospital 644;

– Thelle Mogoerane Hospital: 625;

– Tembisa Hospital: 517;

– Sebokeng Hospital: 511;

– Weskoppies Hospital: 504;

– Kopanong Hospital: 415;

– Bertha Gxowa Hospital: 409;

– Tambo Memorial Hospital: 393;

– Rahima Moosa Hospital: 385;

– Kalafong Hospital: 345;

– Leratong Hospital: 323.

“I am most concerned by the 2 307 recorded deaths of newborn babies and 238 maternal deaths,” Bloom said on Wednesday.

“There were also 866 septic Caesarean sections and 1 148 cases of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy which causes brain damage to children deprived of oxygen.”

“These figures are highly disturbing. They highlight severe management problems in public hospitals and lack of consequence for medical mistakes which leads to court cases and huge payouts that drain the health budget.

“This is further evidence of public sector incompetence that would doom the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) which is administratively very complex,” Bloom said.

Despite several attempts, Gauteng health department spokesperson Kwara Kekana could not be reached for comment on Wednesday morning.