Tembisa Hospital ranked on list for most SAE deaths

Tembisa Hospital is ranked number 7 on a list with the most deaths in Gauteng public hospitals caused by Serious Adverse Events (SAEs).

Of the 3 832 patients who died last year because of SAEs, 517 deaths were recorded at Tembisa Hospital.

These statistics were derived from a written reply by Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku to DA Gauteng health spokesperson Jack Bloom’s questions in the Gauteng legislature.

Bloom said 3 832 patients died last year in Gauteng public hospitals as a result of 10 741 SAEs, which largely arose from avoidable medical negligence.

An SAE is defined as an event that results in unintended harm to a patient by an act of commission or omission rather than by the underlying disease or condition of the patient.

Bloom said the data was alarming and the upward trend in negligence cases was worrying.

“These figures are highly disturbing. They highlight severe management problems in public hospitals and lack of consequence for medical mistakes which leads to court cases and huge pay-outs that drain the health budget,” said Bloom.

The stats of the deaths recorded of mothers and new-borns are a concern. “I am most concerned by the 2 307 recorded deaths of new-born babies and 238 maternal deaths. There were also 866 septic caesarean sections and 1 148 cases of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, which causes brain damage to children deprived of oxygen,” Bloom said.

He said this highlighted the crisis in public health. “Another indication of poor care is the 1 052 cases of hospital-acquired pressure sores which are reported as SAEs as they have direct impact on the patient’s average length of stay in hospital, increase cost of treatment and which may lead to body disfigurement.”

Regardless of the high number of SAEs recorded, only 77 cases were referred for disciplinary action.

He further added that the high number of deaths due to SAEs was further evidence of public sector incompetence that would doom the proposed National Health Insurance.

The hospitals with the most recorded SAEs were Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital (1 763), Steve Biko Hospital (893), George Mukhari Hospital (766), Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital (722), Helen Joseph Hospital (644), Thelle Mogoerane Hospital (625), Tembisa Hospital (517), Sebokeng Hospital (511), Weskoppies Hospital (504), Kopanong Hospital (415), Bertha Gxowa Hospital (409), Tambo Memorial Hospital (393), Rahima Moosa Hospital (385), Kalafong Hospital (345) and Leratong Hospital (323).

Philip van Staden, FF Plus MP and chief FF Plus health spokesperson, believes an intervention at the highest possible level is what is needed to address the current crisis at state hospitals.

“The time has come to take action to address this deadly crisis that has obviously gotten completely out of hand.”

He said staff working at state hospitals have to make do with broken equipment and there is a constant lack of vital medication.

“The Department of Health’s underspending of about R1 billion during the 2018/19 financial year is a shame and a slap in the face of the people of South Africa.”s