‘We learned of his death through state mortuary’
The family of a 62-year-old man say he was hospitalised, but little communication was forthcoming
LIMPOPO – The family of a 62-year-man who died at Musina Hospital two days after he was admitted, has raised their concern with the Department of Health after not being notified of his death.
Despite calls to the hospital to get an update on his condition and a visit to find out what was happening, no one told them that Samuel Ndou had died.
Anikie Mudau, the family spokesperson, said that her uncle became ill on 15 June and they took him to hospital. She said no visits were allowed because of the Covid-19 protocol and she therefore contacted the hospital on several occasions to check his condition.”They simply said if I wanted to know how he was doing, they would call me back. They then hang up.”
Six days later, the family was notified about Mudau’s death by officials of the government mortuary. “All this time we were thinking he is still being treated at the hospital. This incident has left us traumatised,” she told CV.
The family has now lodged a formal complaint.
“After the funeral, we will see what action can be taken against the hospital,” she added.
Provincial Health Spokesperson Neil Shikwambana says they are investigating the matter. “We can’t comment now, because the family has come to us and laid a complaint through our quality assurance office. When a person lays a complaint, we must then institute an investigation.”
He confirmed that it is standard procedure to inform a person’s next of kin when a patient has died in hospital. He says the results of the investigation will be passed on to the family.
