Dr Tim de Maayer, the paediatrician who spilled the beans in a whistle-blowing letter about the shocking conditions at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital, was never issued with a written warning, says the Gauteng Health Department.
It admitted that the doctor and hospital officials had agreed on a letter being issued, but that this was never done, reports News24.
Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said: “While the issuing of the warning letter was initially contemplated, this decision was never acted upon as the parties agreed to close the matter.”
De Maayer was suspended on 10 June after writing an open letter to the Health Department about the “horrendous conditions in our public hospitals” contributing to children’s deaths.
His suspension caused outrage among his colleagues and academics who are part of the “I Am” movement. They wrote to Gauteng Premier David Makhura and Health Minister Joe Phaahla in support of De Maayer and have since met with the minister and the premier.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Health professionals unite in “I Am” movement against state victimisation
Floundering Rahima Moosa Hospital ‘needs to admit it has a crisis’
Gauteng Cabinet to meet over ‘I am’ letter about dire hospital conditions
Doctors back paediatrician’s account of Rahima Moosa collapse
The high price medical whistle-blowers have to pay