Tembisa Hospital tops the list for negligence

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‘Sting’ at Tembisa Hospital reveals challenges

TEMBISA Hospital sits at the top of the list with the highest pay-out to a patient as a result of medical negligence.

R16.5 million was paid to Kutloano Ntsebeng Makgomarela, who was brain-damaged when she was born at this hospital.

Jack Bloom, MPL, shadow MEC for health, in a statement said Gauteng Health Department paid R276 million over two years for 110 legal claims, the vast majority for medical negligence at hospitals.”This was revealed in documents I obtained from the department after making an application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act,” Bloom said.

“The Sheriff of the Court visited the department seven times in 2013/14 because of overdue payments, and R4.4 million was wasted in paying interest on overdue accounts. R155 million was paid for 59 legal claims for the 2013/14 financial year and R121 million in the previous year for 51 court cases.

“The upward trend in negligence cases is worrying, as is the department’s poor handling of these cases as it has lost every single case in the past four years,” Bloom added.

“I hope that the court cases spur action by the department to root out bad medical practices that injure patients.”