The commission is requested to investigate cases of medical negligence after two patients were allegedly denied medical help in different state hospitals on various occasions recently.
With reference to the first case Wilson alleged that the department had failed to provide a woman from Groblersdal, who had fluid in her lungs, with adequate medical assistance after she was transferred to Pietersburg Provincial Hospital. Christina Mohlala was rushed to Groblersdal Hospital eight weeks ago, she explained and reiterated that the patient was given medication and returned home.
Speaking to Polokwane Observer after filing a complaint with the commission, Wilson said “Last week, water in her lungs was serious that she was virtually drowning. She was admitted to the same hospital where water was drained from her lungs twice a day.
The concern is that she was still being given ordinary paracetamol for pain. Unable to diagnose or effectively treat her condition, the patient was transferred to Pietersburg Provincial Hospital last Thursday. A doctor did attend to her on arrival but without any medical tests, scan or even discussions with the patient, Mohlala was loaded in an ambulance and returned to Groblersdal Hospital.
On the second case, a 78-year-old woman reportedly failed to get medical assistance from Groblersdal Hospital and Mankweng Hospital after she broke her femur. When narrating the incident, Wilson reported that Bets Purcell took a fall and broke her femur.
She was rushed to Ephraim Mogale Hospital where she was advised that the leg could not be cast but would require orthopaedic surgery to fix, Wilson explained.
She went on to say on two occasions Purcell was transferred to Philadelphia Hospital whereas the facility is not well equipped to treat her condition. On five occasions she was transported to Mankweng Hospital for admittance into the orthopaedic ward but she was advised that there was either no bed or doctors to admit her.
“Apart from the pain and trauma the patients suffered, the costs of trips made by emergency medical service personnel to transport them from one hospital to the other constitute fruitless and wasteful expenditure, for which there must be consequences,” Wilson said and concluded by saying these incidents contravene patients’ rights and should be investigated to ensure the dignity of those affected.

Source: Polokwane Observer