Alleged negligence of South Rand Hospital staff claims baby’s life
Residents want clerk and other two hospital employees sacked.
THE South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco) and residents marched to the gates of South Rand Hospital (SRH) in protest for the removal of a negligent clerk on October 24 in The Hill.
This comes after a patient claimed she lost her baby at the hands of the hospital’s clerk. The patient was in pain and required the nurse’s attention but the clerk allegedly demanded R70 affliction fee. The victim reprimanded the clerk that pregnant women shouldn’t pay any fees. But according to her, the clerk replied: “If you don’t pay the fee, I don’t care if the child dies”.
Residents demanded that the hospital’s management dismiss the clerk and two other employees implicated with immediate effect. The other two employees are believed to be a cleaner and another clerk who were present while the clerk was allegedly ill-treating the patient. They did not intervene when the clerk was insulting the victim.
Hospital management appealed to Sanco to give them time to investigate the matter before they dismiss anyone and claimed if three positions, two administrative and one general, were vacant they will be understaffed and it may take time to fill the vacant posts.
Sanco insisted that if their demands are not met the protest will take a serious turn. As Sanco and management were in negotiations, acting South Rand Hospital CEO Lindani Sonwabo asked for a few hours to caucus with his troops to come up with a conducive conclusion to the entire matter.
Residents boldly told COURIER: “We are strongly behind the family who lost the child due to someone who didn’t care to do her job.”
Charlie Maqwara, Sanco chairperson, said: “SRH employees are negligent. Their attitude towards the community stinks and they don’t even have name tags. Our people are not served with dignity and pride. That’s why we decided to mobilise the community to come here and vent our frustrations.”
Patients who had come for their medication and scheduled appointments were not affected by the protest.
Sonwabo said: “The allegations are currently been looked into. We must emphasise that all patients at SRH warranting emergency care are attended to.”
The hospital confirmed the patient is currently under their care and that her needs are being attended to.
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