The Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena, will release findings from investigations into two patient safety incidents in Gauteng, including the death of a mental health care user and a neonatal death.
Image: GCIS
The Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena,is releasing findings from two investigations into patient safety incidents in Gauteng.
The briefing addresses the death of a mental health care user at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital (DGMAH) and the neonatal death at Netcare Femina Hospital (NFH).
IOL previously reported that a 35-year-old woman, who was a patient at DGMAH’s female psychiatric unit, died when a fire broke out at the hospital.
In a statement, Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the woman had been admitted on June 20 and was placed in a seclusion room as part of her prescribed treatment. Around 6:35 pm, smoke and a small fire broke out from the room. The fire was quickly contained by the fire brigade, but the patient sustained fatal injuries.
Modiba said 17 other patients in the unit were successfully evacuated and temporarily relocated as a precaution. The cause of the fire is currently unknown, and the incident has been reported to the South African Police Service for further investigation
The DGMAH investigation was prompted by a complaint from the South African Human Rights Commission regarding a psychiatric patient’s death due to burn injuries in June 2024.
The NFH case involves allegations of incorrect medication leading to a neonate’s death.
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