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Gauteng public hospitals recorded 1 954 deaths last year due to negligence, according to Health MEC Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi.
In a written reply to DA questions in the provincial legislature on Wednesday Mokgethi said these deaths were as a result of 6 910 negligence cases recorded in the province’s hospitals last year.
In May, the provincial health department revealed that it had received 157 new summonses last year and was facing medico-legal claims worth R1.6 billion for medical negligence.
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At the time, the department said the issue of medico-legal claims remained a concern as these cases often led to limited funds being diverted to settle claims instead of the maintenance and expansion of services.
Asked how many people had been disciplined in connection with the 6 910 cases, Mokgethi said there were only 28. Mokgethi said none of the cases had been referred to the patient safety and medico legal committee.
The MEC said:
Mokgethi said there were 13 litigations and 31 referrals for mediation.
DA Gauteng shadow health MEC Jack Bloom said the worst offender by far was the Kalafong Provincial Tertiary Hospital in Pretoria which had an astounding 1 015 negligence cases from last year. Bloom said:
“This is why medical negligence claims continue to rocket, with the courts awarding massive payouts.”
“Hospitals should be only about healing rather than places where the patients are harmed. The provincial department of health needs to drastically improve hospital management, and ensure there are adequate and well-trained staff members with proper equipment.”
