Elderly woman’s death at Leratong under investigation
Leratong Hospital is back in the spotlight after an elderly woman was found dead by her family.
The Gauteng Department of Health and the West Rand Health District have launched an investigation into the death of a patient at Leratong Hospital.
On November 22, 2024, Leon Cronje’s mother, Joan, who was ill at the time, was admitted to the hospital.
According to Cronje, his mother was rushed to the hospital after suffering a stroke. He confirmed that hospital staff initially provided urgent assistance but alleges that what transpired in the following weeks may have contributed to her death.
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The deputy director of the hospital’s Quality Assurance Directorate, Nelisiwe Mathebula, has since confirmed that the Cronje family’s complaint has been acknowledged and that further investigations are ongoing.
“Upon arrival, they helped her very quickly as it was an emergency,” Cronje said.
“They told us my mother would need to be admitted for further treatment, but on December 12, they put her on oxygen despite initially saying it was unnecessary.
“When I arrived during visiting hours, I asked why, and they said her oxygen levels were low,” Cronje said.
He said he contacted the hospital the following day to ask about his mother’s condition and was informed that she was stable.
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When he visited the hospital later that same day, he discovered that his mother had passed away.
He further claims that hospital staff were unaware of her death until he pointed it out.
“I found my mother’s lifeless body on the bed with no hospital staff present. I started screaming for help, and my wife went to ask a nurse when they had last checked on my mother.
“The nurse failed to provide a clear answer. My wife then asked the same nurse to check her heartbeat, but it was news we had dreaded,” he said.
“We also noticed that the oxygen machine was no longer on, meaning the mask was serving no purpose. This suggests that someone was aware she had passed away but failed to notify us,” he said.
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Cronje alleges that the case was initially closed, but after requesting a new investigation, the hospital agreed. He said no progress has been made.
“We have received no response regarding the second investigation from Leratong Hospital or the Gauteng Department of Health. We also sent an email to the Minister of Health but have yet to receive a reply,” he said.
The Krugersdorp News reached out to Leratong Hospital, the West Rand Health District, and the Gauteng Department of Health for comment.
They confirmed that an investigation is underway and will be concluded soon to provide the Cronje family with clarity.
Leratong’s communication officer, Mathlatsi Dibakwane, also confirmed that the investigation is ongoing and is expected to be finalised by January 29.
Recently, Leratong Hospital has faced backlash over several complaints of poor service and patient mistreatment.
The hospital has since acknowledged these concerns and released a public statement reaffirming its commitment to providing quality care.
