Baby falls at Tembisa Hospital

Nonhlanhla told the Midrand Reporter that on 21 January she gave birth to a baby boy at the hospital. “I started having pains and told the nurses that the baby is coming out and they told me to ‘shut up’ and they left me to scream in pain. I then gave birth and my baby came out and fell to the floor. The baby did not cry for five minutes after falling.”

“I was so weak and shocked. I called one nurse who came and finally helped me and picked up my child. Nurses started panicking saying something is wrong with the baby. A doctor said my child has meningitis,” Nonhlanhla said.

Nonhlanhla added that she was admitted for two weeks and finally returned home with the baby on 5 January.

“I know public hospitals are bad, but I went through hell,” she added.

Asked for comment, Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Simon Zwane said it is unacceptable that she was treated in that manner. “The department has identified the attitudes of nurses as a big concern. We are currently working with hospital managers to improve it.”

Zwane added, “People must ask to speak to the sister-in-charge before leaving the hospital so that they can report the matter so that disciplinary action can be taken.”