Mabona said the clinic was a day facility and, as such, did not admit patients but, instead, referred critically ill patients to a hospital.
Democratic Alliance Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, Jack Bloom, said the woman, Magdalena Maria Lumley, had fallen and hit her head on a table on 23 July and was taken to the Hillbrow Clinic. Lumley’s daughter, Janice le Roux, had said she received a call from the clinic after 6pm and, instead of keeping her mother overnight for observation, allegedly said that if Lumley was not fetched, she would have to sleep outside. It was also alleged that nobody at the clinic gave Le Roux any details about her mother’s health status and she was given six painkillers.
“Three days later she had to be taken to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital because her condition had deteriorated,” Bloom said.
“She was discharged a week later, but it… [was] reported that she died on Friday 14 August. It seems quite evident that she should never have been declared fit for discharge by the Hillbrow Clinic, whose staff have been very callous in this matter.”
Bloom added that the Gauteng Health Department should investigate this incident and ensure that clinic staff showed more regard for patients, especially the elderly who were particularly vulnerable.
“Mrs Lumley was well-loved and known as the community’s granny. My condolences to the family who are aggrieved that her death was precipitated by a bad experience with our health services,” Bloom said.
Mabona conveyed his heartfelt condolences to Lumley’s family during their time of grief.
“According to information at our disposal, the patient was seen by our health professionals and it was revealed that her condition did not warrant her referral to the next level of care which, in this case, was a hospital,” Mabona said.
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