Gauteng hospitals have been described as ‘killer hospitals’, as the number of ‘adverse’ incidents, including neglect and sexual assault of patients, increases, reports [s]The Times[/s]. [b]Prof Bonita Meyersfeld[/b] of the [b]University of Witwatersrand Law School[/b] says she is often approached by patients and frustrated doctors and the number of complaints was getting worse. ‘Hospitals have no budget for medico-legal cases and have to use their own budgets to defend cases that arise from poor care at their institution, which are extremely expensive.’ This was at the cost of paying suppliers for equipment and drugs, Meyersfeld said.
[link url=http://www.timeslive.co.za/thetimes/2014/04/01/hospitals-lucky-if-you-get-out-alive]Full Report in The Times[/link]
[i]Gauteng’s health department has fired a doctor and four nurses for professional misconduct and medical malpractice[/i]. [s]The Citizen[/s] reports that the department has investigated complaints and allegations of poor patient care and ‘serious adverse events’ in provincial hospitals and clinics. According to [b]Hope Papo, Gauteng Health MEC[/b], in 2012, 373 cases were recorded, and between January and September last year, 532. The majority of these were at Gauteng’s main hospitals – Chris Hani Baragwanath (39 cases), Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg (25), Dr George Mukhari (16) and Steve Biko in Pretoria(seven).
[link url=http://citizen.co.za/152764/gauteng-health-department-fires-doctor-nurses-misconduct]Full Report in The Citizen[/link]