Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has visited the Northern Cape following the release of Health Ombud report on the treatment, complications, and deaths of psychiatric patients at the Northern Cape Mental Hospital (NCMHH) and the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital (RMSH).
Last month, Health Ombud Professor Taole Mokoena, released a report about his findings on the investigations done at the Northern Cape Mental Hospital and Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital.
SAnews reported last month that the Health Ombud report revealed severe shortcomings in patient care, including prolonged damage to electricity infrastructure that left patients freezing to death, acute staff shortages, dangerous medical negligence, and poor facility conditions, such as broken windows and leaking roofs.
The investigation uncovered multiple critical issues, with patients exposed to extreme cold during electricity outages, with one patient dying from hypothermia and others developing serious medical complications.
The investigation found that two patients at NCMHH died due to poor conditions, one from hypothermia and another from pneumonia, while a third patient at RMSH died from a stroke.
The Ombud found that inadequate medical care and failure to follow clinical protocols contributed to the deaths.
The investigation was prompted by Motsoaledi, requesting the Health Ombud to do an investigation.
Motsoaledi, who had requested the Health Ombud to do an investigation, travelled to the Northern Cape province to meet with Premier Dr Zamani Saul, Health MEC Maruping Lekwene, Finance MEC Venus Blennies-Magage, and the management team of the Department of Health, to discuss some of these findings.
“By and large, the findings have to do with issues of human resources, procurement, clinical protocols and practices, inside the hospitals themselves. In the report, some health workers, including doctors and nurses, were fingered for not having performed certain professional clinical functions with diligence.
“After the initial meeting, where the Minister met the Premier, the MECs for Health and Finance, the Director-General of the province, with their officials, it was then agreed that all the labour unions had to be met,” the statement released on Sunday read.
The Minister met with representatives from five labour unions, including the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA), the Health and Other Services Personnel Trade Union of South Africa (HOSPERSA), the National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (NEHAWU), the Public Servants Association of South Africa (PSA), and the National Union of Public Service and Allied Workers (NUPSAW).
The Minister reported to them the purpose of the trip and the findings of the Health Ombud, and what is going to happen going forward.
According to the department, the labour unions pointed out that they are unhappy about how the Health Ombud has fingered some of their members, and they wanted the Minister to investigate that.
"The Minister informed them about the correct procedures in terms of the Health Ombud Report, that the Minister is not an appeals authority of the Health Ombud, and therefore he cannot review his reports. The Minister stated the law requires that when a person appeals, they must establish a three-member tribunal chaired by a retired judge or a retired magistrate.
“The other two members may either be health professionals or legal professionals. Minister has, therefore, advised labour unions that anyone who is not happy, this standard procedure must be followed,” the department said.
Motsoaledi also provided an update to the unions on plans for improving staffing, procuring beds and linen, and hiring health workers in the health sector.
The visit ended with a site-visit at the two hospitals for the delegations to see for themselves some of the findings of the Health Ombud, and to acclimatise themselves in the shortest way possible, to try and implement the recommendations of the Health Ombud report. – SAnews.gov.za
