THE family of the deceased, Rowena Hawkey, said they are currently seeking legal advice following the viral video showing her in distress at Wentworth Hospital.
Her nephew, Allon Pretorius, said they were very shocked when they realised it was her in the video. Hawkey’s cremation was done at the weekend and her ashes sprinkled at the Blue Lagoon in Durban.
Human rights advocate representing the organisation Back on Your Feet, Tess Riekert, said Hawkey’s daughter, Teressa, suffers tremendously as she does not have any answers as to what happened to her mother and when her mother passed.
“All the patients who were left unattended in that Covid-19 pre-admission ward were patients with pre-existing conditions. They were admitted seeking relief and medication for these pre-existing conditions and forced to first take the Covid-19 test before the medical staff was prepared to even look at them, let alone caring for the patients in-between.”
“This was the case with our client’s mother. She was admitted for asthma and left with her pump out of reach on a very narrow stretcher. Lying flat and battling to get herself upright to get comfortable and ease her breathing, she used the last of her breath to cry for help,” she said.
She said the family’s woes did not end at the hospital. On Thursday, 14 January, Teressa was called to collect her mother’s ashes by the funeral services and inquired about the autopsy report.
“They were shocked when informed by the person who was present when the autopsy was requested, that this, unfortunately, was not done. Our legal team then contacted Mr Madlala (from the funeral service) and what followed made it clear that Wentworth Hospital management is covering up, as the hospital gave instruction for the body to be collected and cremated on Wednesday morning.”
“We fail to understand the rush for the late Rowena Hawkey to be cremated while there are so many Covid-19 death-related bodies awaiting cremation. We are of the opinion that the cremation was rushed, as hospital management wanted the body to be collected and cremated, as it is obvious that an autopsy would have proven neglect and that Hawkey did not pass of natural causes as carelessly written on the death certificate,” she added.
Throughout the 90 second video, no health official is seen as Hawkey’s heart-wrenching screams continue in the background.
“I can’t breathe,” she wails as her voice breaks. “Please, please can you give me my pump? Please get me out of here… I’m going to die like this,” says a distressed Hawkey.
The issue of faulty telephone lines at the hospital was brought to the spotlight by community activist, Tracey Williams, who spoke out after a woman suffered the same fate with her husband.
“A woman had gone into the hospital to find her husband deceased. He was laying in the morgue and she was not called. All we’ve been hearing is that the telephone lines are down. We don’t need to know about the lines being down, we need help for our people,” said Williams.
The provincial spokesperson for health, Sibongiseni Mkhize said issues at the hospital were now fixed.
“When the phone lines were down, the hospital gave an alternative number and made it known through its communications platform. A noticed was also made to the board. I have personally spoken to the CEO and was assured that oxygen levels are at 40 percent,” he said.
Addressing the issue recently, the provincial health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu, said matters need to be reported immediately so they can address them with the urgency needed.
“At the time, we actually thought that the video was something happening on the spot. That is why we then dispatched management immediately.”
“However, we then subsequently discovered that it was a video that was recorded on 22 December. In future, where patients have challenges, we’re making a call that they complain to us immediately, so that we’re able to address matters that are there on the spot,” she said.
The MEC added that their investigations revealed that 11 doctors were away in isolation on the day, after testing positive and that a further 17 nursing staff were off, due to Covid-19.
Six nurses oversaw the Accidents and Emergency Unit, as well as a 28-bedded short stay ward with very sick patients.
