Priceless rings stolen while in safekeeping at ZAR hospital
“The hospital views the complaint in a very serious light and sincerely regrets the negative experience. We will engage with the family once the investigation is complete.”
An 84-year old patient’s rings were stolen at the Zuid-Afrikaans Hospital in Muckleneuk, Pretoria when she went to have a medical procedure done last week.
According to her daughter-in-law, she was admitted to the hospital on April 22 to undergo a medical procedure and was discharged two days later.
“The rings were a gift from her husband, now deceased, as a wedding band. They were simply priceless and can never be replaced.
“She handed the rings to a nurse for safekeeping when she was admitted; however, when she was discharged, she was informed that it could not be returned to her as it had been stolen,” the daughter-in-law said.
A spokesperson for the hospital, Elzaan de Villiers, said the hospital was aware of “this very sensitive concern”.
“We engaged with the patient and her family since it was brought to our attention.”
De Villiers said the hospital has launched an internal investigation which is currently ongoing.
“The hospital views the complaint in a very serious light and sincerely regrets the negative experience. We will engage with the family once the investigation is complete.”
The daughter-in-law confirmed the hospital contacted them and said they usually advised patients at reception to send valuables home with a loved one.
“The hospital is very compassionate about the incident, but the camera footage could not establish anything,” she told Rekord.
“We’ve been informed the nurse that the rings were handed to apparently said she had put it in my mother-in-law’s bag. Several cleaners were also in the vicinity at that moment and thus they were not sure who took it.”
She said they were further informed that all staff members involved, therefore, received a written warning.
“We believe there should be a procedure or protocol to be followed by members of staff when patients hand in valuables for safekeeping.
“It is not acceptable that it was merely put into her bag. No one notified her of this; she was brought under the impression that the hospital would keep it safe and hand it back to her once she was done. She is simply devastated.”
The daughter-in-law said one could expect it only to happen again as the culprit has not been caught.
“We will avoid going there again,” she added.
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