29 April 2009

Inkatha Freedom Party Chief Whip, Koos van der Merwe, is calling on the Minister of Health, Barbara Hogan, to urgently investigate several instances of gross negligence at the Hanover Park Day Hospital and the Groote Schuur Hospital in the Western Cape, which led to the death of a new born baby last week. 

A nightmare unfolded when Ricardo Sedres, the IFP Western Cape Provincial Organiser's wife, Mikyle Sedres, went into labour last Thursday 23 April 2009. 

They had arrived at the Hanover Park Day Hospital at 10am and were refused assistance by the day hospital staff. Even though Mrs Sedres was clearly in labour she was told to wait in the waiting room with the other patients. 

Mrs Sedres was eventually told to go to the Groote Schuur Hospital, but then had to endure a three hour wait for an ambulance to arrive. Once at the Groote Schuur Hospital, Mikyle Sedres was left unattended in the trauma unit from 16h00 to 21h00. Mrs Sedres eventually went into labour and despite her numerous calls for help, was left to give birth on her own at 20h30. The newborn baby, with its umbilical cord still attached to his mother, passed away 45 minutes later. 

"The Bill of Rights is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom. It also affords all South Africans the very basic right to health care. The Minister of Health must account for this instance of gross negligence, the gross abuse of human rights and the abuse of human dignity. We call on the Minister to urgently set up an enquiry into this matter," said Koos van der Merwe, the IFP's Chief Whip and spokesperson on Justice. 

Mr Sedres said that despite his efforts to get more information from the hospital he was simply told to write a letter of complaint. The hospital has also failed to provide any emotional support or counselling to Mrs Sedres.  

"It is very clear that both hospitals are trying to cover up this total disregard and carelessness of its doctors and staff. My newborn baby has passed way and I was sent away and told to write the hospital a letter of complaint.

This is totally unthinkable and unacceptable. I have approached the Legal Aid Board and will be taking legal action against the hospitals in question and the Minister of Health," said Sedres. 

Sedres added that South Africans do not have any confidence South Africa's crumbling healthcare system because it provides sub-standard care or no care at all.  

"Clearly our state hospitals are facing such severe shortages of skills and staff that it now directly violates the human rights of South Africans, leading to the unnecessary loss of life. I will be taking this matter to the highest court in the land if that is what it takes," concluded Sedres.