Religious leaders have to apply to visit patients

The Netcare Hospital Group urge religious leaders to abide by the rules and policies as set out with regards to visiting patients in all their respective care facilities.

During a formal meeting that was held recently with religious leaders from the West Rand at Netcare Krugersdorp Private Hospital, it was discussed that they will have to fill out an access application form before being able to have access to their patients.

National Health Act

Motlalentoa Motsoane, the hospital’s General Manager says the hospital also have to consider the requirements of the National Health Act as set out in the Constitution of South Africa.

“The Act stipulates that the patients are entitled to their privacy while at the hospital and that their health status are to remain confidential. Therefore we are not allowed to disclose any information to any third party even if the health status have been public.”

He says this information may be disclosed only when the patient consented to such disclosure in writing, a court order requires such disclosure or the non-disclosure of such information represents a serious threat to public health.

“We are forbidden by law to provide any information, verbal or in writing, to any person presenting themselves as a religious leader from any particular faith regarding a patient admitted or discharged from the facility without due procedure regarding written consent being followed.”

Motsoane says this procedure is followed because there were incidents in the past where people claimed to be religious leaders, but it then turned out that they were not.

Apply for visitation rights

“When religious leaders come to the hospital they must bring with them a list of the people that they wish to see and a consent form from the patient,” says Motsoane.

All religious leaders who would like to obtain visitation rights must then complete an application form and submit it together with a clear certified copy of his or her identity document or passport, and a clear certified copy of his or her identity card or letter from the religious body, organisation or establishment indicating appointment as such religious leader.

Once the application was received by the Reception Manager, it will be reviewed and approved.

The religious leaders that were approved and given access will be provided with a religious visitor card.

Patients need to give consent

On admission patients will be required to complete the Religious Access and Support Consent Form – a refusal to complete such a form would automatically be considered as ‘non-consent’.

Motsoane says that patients that are over 18 years of age are allowed to refuse visits by religious leaders.

“We are were sometimes faced with the situation where the parents or family members of the patient would send a religious leader, but then the patient did not want to see such a leader.”

Another issue was with religious leaders visiting the hospital and performing rituals or sing or pray to the patient while there are other patients in the room.

“The hospital is supposed to be the facility where patients are to recover and rest, so we can’t have situations like that. Even in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) we need to take infection control in consideration.”

He says if religious leaders want to have all these things done it can be communicated with them and a vacant room can be made available for such purposes.