Shocking state hospital stats: more than 20,000 patients harmed since 2016
Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa has confirmed that more than 20‚000 patients have been harmed due to negligence in the space of two-and-a-half years at state hospitals in Gauteng. Ramokgopa quoted the figure in a written response to questions posed in the Gauteng Legislature by DA member of the provincial legislature Jack Bloom. When patients are harmed unintentionally‚ by an act of commission or omission rather than their underlying illness or condition‚ the incidents are recorded as "Serious Adverse Events". There have been 20‚417 of these incidents in the province since 2016 to date. "Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital is the most dangerous hospital for patients in Gauteng‚ with 4‚320 recorded (incidents)‚" Bloom said in a statement on Monday. Ramokgopa confirmed that the cases were‚ broadly speaking‚ related to "allegations of negligence‚ incompetence of staff members‚ human errors‚ secondment of patients and system failure". A breakdown of the incidents shows that there were 6‚1...
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