The SA Human Rights Council (SAHRC) has announced that it is to investigate complaints that a nurse who had insulted a patient in February was only suspended on 9 August after a video of the incident was leaked to the public, reports Health-e News. SAHRC provincial manager Victor Mavhidula said he was concerned that the hospital management had ignored the incident for months. In the video, the nurse is heard using vulgar words to insult a female patient who manages to keep calm.
“We have found that the hospital management knew about the incident which took place in February but did nothing about the matter and the nurse implicated has continued to work as if nothing was wrong until she was put on temporary suspension on Friday,” said Mavhidula. He described the incident as unprofessional, which he said was one of the reasons why elderly people refused to go to the hospital when they were ill. Mavhidula said the commission had been in contact with the health department regarding the incident and was investigating.
The report says Limpopo Health media liaison officer, Thilivhali Muavha, confirmed that the implicated nurse was put on temporary suspension, pending further investigations.
[link url="https://health-e.org.za/2019/08/16/human-right-watchdog-to-investigate-rude-nurse/"]Health-e News report[/link]