MEC meets with hospital staff, management

Monday, November 30, 2009

Pretoria - Doctors and management from the Far East Rand Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital will today have to explain why a two-year-old girl who was admitted for burns on her hands ended up with both legs amputated.

They were summoned by Gauteng MEC for Health and Social Development, Qedani Mahlangu, to meet with her on Monday.

The toddler, Thembisa Kometsi, from Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, was admitted at Far East Rand Hospital and later transferred to Charlotte Maxeke Academic hospital to be treated for burns on her hands. Instead she ended up with her legs being amputated.

The MEC has condemned the incident, describing it as tragic and a travesty of justice.

"Our hospitals cannot be places where people are subjected to bad treatment and neglect. It is unacceptable that we continue to have incidents of this nature happening at our facilities."

She said the department would conduct a thorough investigation to get to the bottom of the incident and action would be taken against those found to be guilty of negligence which may lead to dismissal.

Doctors, nurses and managers from Rahima Moosa hospital have also been called to the MEC's office to explain their insensitive treatment to the Muchemei family following the death of their baby, Mejury, last week.

Mahlangu said while it was understandable that doctors and nurses work under difficult conditions, ill-treatment and abuse of patients cannot be justified.

The MEC encouraged members of public who experience poor service at hospitals to report these incidents through a call centre which operates 24 hours on 011 488 4394 or 011 488 4366 or 011 488 4351 or 011 488 4445.