There are no unclaimed bodies piling up at Helen Joseph Hospital, Gauteng Health has said after claims of multiple unclaimed bodies left in limbo due to a lack of printer cartridges required to process post-mortem documentation, and amid calls by the DA for more accountability, SowetanLIVE reports.
The denial follows concerns raised by both the DA and the Funeral Industry Reformed Association about administrative failures they say are preventing the transfer of corpses from the hospital’s mortuary for autopsies.
Department spokesperson Motalatale Modiba admitted the hospital had experienced printing service issues between 17 June and 23, but he said contingency plans had been put in place and all affected families had been assisted by Tuesday.
“Contrary to the sensationalised report, there is only one body there – from a patient who was declared dead on arrival on Wednesday, 25 June. The family was eventually traced to KwaZulu-Natal and notified accordingly,” he said.
The delay in printing services was due to delayed payments to two service providers, but this had been resolved, he added.
However, the funeral association’s Johan Rousseau said the problem had affected at least six cases.
“Officials don’t understand the trauma this causes for families. Funeral parlours get frustrated because they cannot assist the family properly and in the absence of a regulator or ombudsman there’s little recourse,” he said.
DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Health Madeleine Hicklin called on MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko to take accountability.
“Despite her protesting that the department is functioning well, that paperwork for the deceased could not be processed shows the department is irrevocably broken,” she said.
SowetanLIVE article – Health department denies mortuary problems (Restricted access)
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Helen Joseph Hospital woes symptom of a bigger problem
Helen Joseph doctors’ plea for action as hospital in ‘dire straits’
Unclaimed body count in state mortuaries tops 3 000