Stealing from the dead at Pretoria hospital

The families of three people who died of Covid-related complications say that they were robbed of personal belongings such as wedding rings and cellphones while they were patients at a Pretoria hospital. Moreletapark families of Jan Koudstaal and Santie Reyneke, who were admitted to the Pretoria East hospital separately, are now demanding answers on how their loved ones’ belongings went missing in a “secure” hospital.

Koudstaal (56) was admitted on 13 January. He spent more than a week at the hospital fighting for his life before succumbing to the virus.

“When my mother was at the hospital after learning about his death, she noticed that his wedding ring and his organ donor necklace were missing,” said his daughter Chenelle Kruger.

“She notified the hospital staff right away and was told that they would search for the items.”

As the days went by, Jan’s wife called the hospital to find out whether they had found the missing items, but was told that they were gone.

The family suspects the items were stolen.

“This is shocking and traumatising for families who are already grieving,” said Chenelle.

“The idea that while we were trying to come to terms with his passing, his items were being stolen is really heart-breaking.

“But what was worse was that this happened in what is supposed to be a secure hospital.”

Chenelle said the family had many unanswered questions.

“When were his items taken off his body? While he was on the ventilator fighting for his life? Or after he had passed on?

“When we asked the hospital whether they could show us hospital camera footage, they told us they didn’t have any as part of their patient privacy policy. There was nothing they could do, they said.”

Jan’s wife of 18 years, Robyn, said the ring held sentimental value.

“The ring has very little monetary value; they’d be lucky if they got much for it, but it had great meaning to me.

“Somebody in that hospital is stealing and we can’t have it happening to other people.”

Marileen Reyneke, daughter of 68-year-old Santie who lost her battle with Covid-19, said she experienced a similar ordeal at the hospital when her mother died in mid-January.

Reyneke said she did not immediately notice that her mother’s glasses, cellphone and jewellery were all missing until she got home.

“I notified the hospital staff that there were items missing. I was told to come and collect some stuff,” she said.

“Then I realised that her golden bangles and the crucifix on a necklace my father bought her were missing.”

Marileen said she was also told that the items, worth about R8 000, were nowhere to be found and the hospital could not do anything.

Peter Wilgenbus passed away on 15 January, and when his wife Gina went to collect his items she found nothing except a few toiletries.

The missing items included his clothes, a sentimental blanket, toiletries and slippers.

“You must trust the staff with your life but you cannot trust them with your belongings,” Gina said.

Gina said to her family, the missing belongings had nothing to do with their worth, but were more about sentimental value.

“The advice of the person handling this is that we must claim it from our insurance,” she said.

“It’s not about money. It’s about sentimental things like the special blanket that he and his granddaughter shared in front of the TV and used to build a tent.”

Gina has since opened a case with the Garsfontein police.

The hospital’s acting general manager Erna Visagie said despite a comprehensive internal investigation they were unable to find the personal items belonging to the two deceased. They were, however, able to help locate Wilgenbus’ wedding ring and spectacles at the undertaker and some toiletries, which were returned to the family.

Visagie said they offered the Wilgenbus family to refund the value of the other items, such as the remaining toiletries, a blanket and some clothing which they could not find.

“On behalf of Netcare Pretoria East hospital I like to again express our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr Koudstaal, Mrs Santie Reyneke and Mr Wilgenbus,” she said.

“We apologise to the families profusely for their experience.

READ MORE; Family sues hospital for negligence over ‘bed sore’

“Should the families wish to report this matter to the police, we will co-operate fully with them in their investigations.”

Visagie said following the incidents, the hospital has now implemented “additional security and forensic measures” to help prevent thefts.

She said that in order to afford patients the necessary privacy, they could not use surveillance cameras in clinical areas.

“We have, however, with assistance from our security service provider and forensic department strengthened measures in other ways to help prevent such unacceptable occurrences.

“While we understand that this has been a most upsetting experience for the families, it is deeply unfortunate that this has undermined the hard work and unwavering dedication that our healthcare workers have demonstrated over the past year, in very challenging circumstances, and continue to put in each day,” Visagie said.

Since the loss of these items, she said standard operating procedures for nursing, security and reception staff have been refreshed and reinforced to increase vigilance and reduce potential opportunities for patients’ property to be lost or stolen.

“We actively encourage patients not to bring valuables to hospital, but where this is unavoidable items can be signed in for safekeeping in accordance with our strict chain of custody paperwork and revised SOPs to minimise the possibility of theft or loss in our hospital.

“Should further claims be reported, each will be investigated individually to the best of our ability and any findings will be considered to see how we might further bolster our security measures,” she said.

She said the hospital had no tolerance for criminality and was determined to get to the bottom of the incidents.

“Our hospital and security personnel will gladly ensure the safekeeping of valuables. They will do this in accordance with our strict chain of custody paperwork to minimise the possibility of theft or loss in our hospital,” she said.

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