The South African Nursing Council Appeal Authority (SANCAA) has ruled that an inquiry failed to conduct a thorough investigation into ill-treatment of an elderly patient admitted to Capital Heart Endovascular Surgical Hospital in Durban.
Tholsiemah Naidoo (86) was admitted on 3 July 2022 after a diagnosis of bronchitis pneumonia, but was neglected by staff – being given no pressure care mattress and developing a sore that was not only untreated but also left exposed, according to her grandson, Chris Govender.
He told IOL his grandmother was only put on the pressure mattress on 10 July after a pressure wound had already formed, and in efforts to cover up the staff’s negligence.
Moreover, she also appeared to have bruises on her body, which the hospital explained as an allergy caused by the medication, and, he added, the staff had tampered with his grandmother’s file and also billed her for medication that was never administered.
After her discharge on 11 July, Govender complained to the South African Nursing Council and the matter was taken to the the Preliminary Investigating Committee (PIC), which was of the view there was no evidence of negligence.
Frustrated, Govender approached the SANCAA on appeal, where the matter was heard by four committee members.
The committee said the PIC failed to address the theft allegations relating to medication that was billed but not administered, and that there was glaring evidence the nurses caring for Naidoo had violated the regulations and the Act by failing to provide her with the necessary treatment and care and to refer her for relevant medical treatment.
As a result, the appeal committee set aside the decision made by the PIC, directing it to refer the matter to the Professional Conduct Committee “to conduct an inquiry into the conduct of the nurses”.
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