Ambulance turned away 6 times, man dies

2012-07-05 09:16

Netcare

Pretoria - Six private hospitals allegedly turned an ambulance away, while a gravely ill patient lay dying in the back.

After a seventh hospital finally admitted Jan Faber, 66, and he was finally given treatment, he unfortunately died, reported Beeld.

Earlier on Tuesday evening, Faber’s wife San, 62, had called Netcare 911 when she realised her husband was having a heart attack. An ambulance was at their Pretoria home within eight minutes.

A paramedic called four hospitals but their ICUs were full. The ambulance then went to the Montana hospital, where Faber was again turned away because there apparently was no cardiologist.

The Wilgers hospital was willing to admit Faber but when the ambulance was a block away, it was again turned away.

Faber was eventually admitted to the Unitas hospital where he died shortly afterwards.

“The time we spent looking for a hospital could’ve made the difference between life and death. We could just have well have gone to Steve Biko (a state hospital). I I hear there are good cardiologists,” said Faber’s wife.

Netcare said it was investigating the incident.

- News24