COVID-19 PATIENT DENIED FOOD FOR MORE THAN 100 HOURS AT TEMBISA HOSPITAL-REVEALS HEALTH OMBUDSMAN

The Health Ombudsman, Professor Melagarapu Makgoba, has finally released his findings into the circumstances surrounding Shonisani Lethole’s death at Tembisa Hospital.

KAE News reported last year that Lethole died before receiving his COVID-19 results at Tembisa Hospital on the 30th of June 2020. He was admitted at the hospital with breathing difficulties.

Due to alleged mistreatment at the Hospital, the 35 year old Lethole even tweeted the Minister of Health, Zweli Mkhize, while at Tembisa Hospital. In the tweet Leshole complained to Mkhize that he hadn’t eaten for 48 hours and staff “didn’t seem to care”.

Sadly, that was the last tweet sent by Lethole. His family also alleged that his request to visit the bathroom with a wheelchair was ignored.

Due to the public outcry, the Department of Health decided to investigate the matter. Almost 6 months later, The Health Ombudsman has released the report.

According to the Health Ombudsman, Tembisa Hospital was negligent in its treatment of Lethole, and provided untruthful information to the ombud.

The Ombudsman found that the health facility failed to summon a single witness or previously admitted patient to provide credible evidence that any meals were served and eaten at Lethole’s casualty ward on the 23rd and 24th of June 2020.

The Ombud also found that Lethole was denied food for 100 hours and 54 minutes. He concluded that the tweet sent to the Minister was a “tip of the iceberg “.

The Health Ombudsman recommended that:

The Gauteng Department of Health should institute disciplinary action against 12 staff members including Doctors and Nurses.
The Gauteng Health MEC, Dr. Nomathemba Mokgethi, must institute a disciplinary inquiry against the CEO of the Hospital, Dr. Mogaladi
The MEC must urgently appoint an independent forensic and audit firm to conduct a competency assessment of the entire leadership and management of Tembisa Hospital.

The Tembisa Hospital management was not available for comment “The Tembisa Hospital management is currently studying the contents of the report and its implications, and will advise on the way forward in due course after receiving legal advice from our legal team” it said in a statement.