Pretoria - The Gauteng Department of Health has launched an investigation into an attack on a doctor and several patients at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg at the weekend.
According to reports, a psychotic patient was in one of the medical wards when he stole a pair of scissors from a medical tray and hid it. He later became aggressive and started stabbing patients and the doctors on duty.
The patient was restrained by hospital security personnel and taken to Baragwanath's psychiatric ward for evaluation and observation.
The stabbed patients suffered minor lacerations and were stitched up while the doctor was believed to be admitted to another hospital.
A debriefing was initiated to the doctor and patients.
Gauteng Health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe has expressed sympathy with the doctor and patients who sustained injuries and assured them as well as their families and members of the public that everything will be done to investigate the incident and measures will be put in place to ensure that there is no repeat of a similar incident.
She added that the incident was unfortunate and assured hospital users that security at the hospital was adequate.
"The department together with hospital management will however consider the outcome of the investigation and tighten security measures if needed," said MEC Mekgwe.
