Leratong Hospital on the most recorded serious adverse events list
It is defined as an event that results in an unintended harm to the patient by an act of commission or omission.
Last year, Leratong Hospital experienced 323 serious adverse events (SAEs).
Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC, released a statement claiming that 3 832 patients died last year in Gauteng public hospitals as a result of 10 741 SAEs, which largely arise from avoidable medical negligence.
This disturbing information was disclosed by Gauteng Health MEC Bandile Masuku in a written reply to Bloom’s questions in the Gauteng Legislature recently.
An SAE is defined as an event that results in unintended harm to the patient by an act of commission or omission, rather than by the underlying disease or condition of the patient.
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“I am most concerned by the 2 307 recorded deaths of newborn babies and 238 maternal deaths. There were also 866 septic Caesarean sections and 1 148 cases of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy which causes brain damage in children deprived of oxygen,” Bloom said in his statement.
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 may lead to body disfigurement”.
Despite the high number of SAEs, only 77 cases were referred for disciplinary action.
“These figures are highly disturbing. They highlight severe management problems in public hospitals and lack of consequences for medical mistakes which lead to court cases and huge payouts that drain the health budget.
“This is further evidence of public sector incompetence that would doom the proposed National Health Insurance, which is administratively very complex.”
