CEO of Tembisa Tertiary Hospital, Lekopane Mogaladi, has reiterated he will be taking his battle to remain in charge of the hospital to court. An Eyewitness News report notes that a damning report by Health Ombudsman Malekgapuru Makgoba found that the Tembisa facility administered sub-standard care to Shonisani Lethole – a man who died at the hospital days after complaining about its conditions.
The Gauteng Health Department then issued Mogaladi with a notice that he would be placed on suspension. The department gave Mogaladi five working days to explain why he should not be placed on suspension.
In a statement issued through a PR company, Mogaladi said he was treated unfairly. The statement added that Mogaladi had submitted written representations to the department explaining why there was no rational cause to proceed with disciplinary action against him.
When the report was released, Mogaladi said he would be challenging it, saying the hospital was not able to cross-examine evidence and that the report was one-sided.
Makgoba also found gross negligence at the hands of medical staff there and recommended accountability. “Furthermore, it makes absolutely no sense why the department would rush to take such action despite being informed of his intention to appeal the report,” Mogaladi's statement added.
“Appointing an interim CEO without considering Dr Mogaladi's representation shows that the department had already made up its mind about suspending him. This is unfair and against the labour laws of South Africa,” the statement continued.
Meanwhile, labour unions Public Servants Association of SA (PSA) and Nehawu have rejected the appointment of an interim CEO at Tembisa Hospital. In the same breath, the two unions called for the “unlawful action” taken against Mogaladi and other staff members to be withdrawn and for Mogaladi to return to his post on Monday.
SowetanLIVE reports that following Mogaladi’s suspension, Dr Gladdys Bogoshi was appointed the interim CEO.
The Institutional Labour Caucus (ILC), which compromises of PSA and Nehawu shop stewards, said the decision came following meetings held last week. “The ILC resolved not to co-operate with Ms Gladys Bogoshi in any form at TPTH (the hospital). In fact, the ILC views Ms Gladys Bogoshi’s continued presence as provocation and a serious threat to the internal labour relations stability at the hospital,” they are quoted in the report as saying.
The unions claimed the office of premier David Makhura “forced” the department of health acting head Arnold Malotana to transfer or suspend Mogaladi.
The unions have also requested Health Minister Zweli Mkhize to “appoint reputable persons” to serve on the appeal board that will consider Mogaladi’s suspension.
[link url="https://ewn.co.za/2021/02/10/tembisa-hospital-ceo-heads-to-court-over-suspension-ombud-s-lethole-report"]Full Eyewitness News report (Open access)[/link]
[link url="https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/south-africa/2021-02-14-unions-reject-appointment-of-new-boss-at-tembisa-hospital/"]Full SowetanLIVE report[/link]
See also MedicalBrief archives:
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/tembisa-defies-health-ombud-over-findings-and-recommendations/"]Tembisa defies Health Ombud over findings and recommendations[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/health-ombud-censures-ceo-and-staff-over-tembisa-hospital-zoo/"]Severe censure of medical, nursing and support staff at Tembisa ‘zoo’[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/health-ombud-completes-probe-into-tembisa-hospital-patients-death/"]Health Ombud completes probe into Tembisa Hospital patient’s death[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/check-on-4-gauteng-hospitals-finds-safety-protocols-are-ignored/"]Check on 4 Gauteng hospitals finds safety protocols are ignored[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/lack-of-funds-prevented-filling-of-posts-at-hospital-unit-where-10-babies-died/"]Lack of funds prevented filling of posts at hospital unit where 10 babies died[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/cre-outbreak-and-10-baby-deaths-in-gauteng-hospital-blamed-on-overcrowding/"]CRE outbreak and 10 baby deaths in Gauteng Hospital blamed on overcrowding[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/human-rights-commission-wants-full-investigation-tembisa-hospital/"]Human Rights Commission wants full investigation into Tembisa Hospital[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/overcrowding-tembisa-hospital-danger-patients-say/"]Overcrowding at Tembisa Hospital a danger, patients say[/link]