The Limpopo Department of Health has launched an investigation after a patient died at the entrance to Northam Clinic in the Waterberg District at the weekend, after being denied access by the security guards.
IOL reports that the man was bleeding “from all body orifices” when he was taken to the clinic at around 3am on Saturday, according to provincial Health spokesperson Derick Kganyago.
“Instead of allowing them access, security guards said that due to load shedding, they would not open for them and gave them contact numbers for emergency medical services.”
By the time the ambulance arrived, the patient had died.
Limpopo Health MEC Dr Phophi Ramathuba said they were awaiting a full report, and that “security guards … should stay in their lane”.
“Denying access to healthcare contradicts our commitment to upholding basic human rights,” she said.
“We reiterate our plea to security guards to adhere to their duties and refrain from triaging patients, a responsibility outside their expertise.”
In August, Ramathuba had sent a team to investigate the death of another man who had collapsed and died on his way home after he being turned away from Ramupudu Clinic in Limpopo.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Clinic turns away pregnant Zimbabwean teenager
Hospitals of fear: Police and guards ‘run away’ during attacks on patients
Security guards block hospital entry over salary backlog
Spate of attacks reveal training failure of hospital security guards
Poor security and power cuts cripple Soweto Clinic – DA