The severe bruises on an 84-year-old Pretoria hospital patient were “self-inflicted” and not because he was restrained “too tightly”.
This was according to an investigation by the provincial health branch into allegations that staff at Tshwane district hospital “tightly” restrained patient Abram Holtzhauzen to a hospital bed.
Instead, the investigation claimed that “the reported tightness might have been due to the patient’s frequent movement over time as he tried to free himself from the restrains”.
“There is no indication on the records to suggest that the patient was tightly restrained,” the probe found.
According to Gauteng health department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba, soft restraints were to stop Holtzhauzen from falling, removing drips, oxygen and catheter.
The elderly Holtzhauzen was admitted to the hospital on July 3 for medical treatment.
The probe came after his daughter reported she found Holtzhauzen with visible dark red and purple bruises on his arms when she visited.
It was alleged that the bruises were a result of being tightly restrained to the hospital bed.
Rea Thusa/We Help CEO spokesperson Virginia Young raised the alarm on the shocking treatment of Holtzhauzen, which led to the probe last Wednesday.
She was however ill at ease as she claimed that the family never received feedback from the department on results of the probe.
She further rejected the findings of the probe shared with Rekord when communicated to her.
“They are such damn liars.”
Young had alleged that Holtzhauzen’s legs were tied, along with his arms and was left on a bed near an open window with the cold wind blowing over him.
She said when his daughter, Magda, visited him he was unfed and freezing.
Magda said he had not even been provided with a blanket to cover himself.
“My father’s feet were cold. His food was left there and he couldn’t even feed himself or drink water because his hands were tied,” she said.
“He struggled to breathe and kept coughing because they made him lie flat on his back. I asked the nurse to loosen the restraints a bit and she was unable.”
She said that from the moment her father got to the hospital, he was treated badly and was tied up in the ward.
He was initially hospitalised due to blood pressure.
“I took my father out of the district hospital to Steve Biko [hospital],” said Magda.
She said due to the alleged abuse the family of the 84-year-old man suffered, it has refused to have him re-admitted to the hospital.
She said the man was discharged from Steve Biko on July 14.
However, Modiba said that “according to clinical records, soft restraints were used”.
Addressing allegations that Holtzhauzen’s well-being was further compromised by an open window, Modiba said it was the hospital’s policy to ensure that some windows were kept open to allow cross ventilation.
He said this was to prevent infections.
The ward in Holtzhauzen’s case was, however, kept warm to prevent hyperthermia for all patients.
He said the hospital also tried to explain to the family that the patient must wear hospital robes, but “the family insisted on dressing the patient in private attire instead, which they were not allowed to do”.
Modiba said that the hospital’s acting CEO wanted to meet with the family and bring the patient back “as part of resolving its concerns”.
“This will also allow for a formal redress meeting given that the family had already raised its unhappiness.”
Modiba said the health department apologised for the experience.
“We continue to work hard to improve patient experience of care,” he said.
“Currently, we are running the annual patient experience of care survey which gives patients, families and the public accessing healthcare services in Gauteng public hospitals and clinics to rate the level of care received.”
Survey forms are available at all public healthcare facilities.
NGO calls on residents to donate winter wear for Mandela Day
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
