Johannesburg - The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development is expected to conclude an investigation into the conduct of three nurses which may have led to the death of a 12-year-old child, by the end of the week.
Samukelisiwe Sikhundla was admitted to the Edenvale Hospital on Johannesburg's East Rand on 19 June with tonsillitis, but died of a fractured skull and a dislocated spine.
MEC for Health and Social Development, Qedani Mahlangu, said the three nurses who were on duty at the time have been suspended pending the investigation by the department, as a precautionary measure.
"The three nurses have been interviewed by the investigation team and the family will soon be interviewed. Should the investigation reveal any misconduct on the part of the three nurses, disciplinary action will be taken," warned Ms Mahlangu.
She said it was unacceptable that patients who arrived at health facilities to be cured from their ailments, end up dying.
"The department will not tolerate the ill treatment of patients and negligence by some health professionals; where in some instances it has lead to the death of patients in some hospitals," said Ms Mahlangu.
She reiterated that incompetency, negligence and misconduct had no place in public hospitals in the province and emphasized that if the three nurses are also found to be criminally liable for their actions the law would be allowed to take its course.
Ms Mahlangu further encouraged members of the public who experience poor service at hospitals to report the complaints through the provincial call centre which operates day and night, seven days a week.
The establishment of the call centre, which started to operate on 22 June was announced by Ms Mahlangu during the launch of the department's operation 'Kuyasheshwa-La', which aims to deliver the best accessible health care to residents.
The call centre, which is used to receive and manage complaints from members of the public is linked with the Managing Medical Officer and Institutional Clinical Managers on duty on a 24/7 basis.
Through the central complaints management call centre, people can lodge their complaints about public health facilities and Ms Mahlangu ensured that the complaints lodged with the centre will be processed within 48 hours.
The numbers for the call centre are (011) 488-4394/4351/4366/4445.
