TWO South Coast hospitals, Port Shepstone and Murchison face massive medical negligence claims. The KwaZulu-Natal Health Department has accepted liability in a matter where a blind child’s family is claiming damages of R15,5-million.
The authorities admitted negligence as staff at Port Shepstone Hospital failed to monitor the oxygen levels of a premature baby. The child, born in 2006 went blind because of ‘bilateral retinopathy of prematurity’.
The amount the mother will be paid out will be determined next year. But no amount of money can ever make up for the suffering the family has had to endure. There are seven maternal health claims against Port Shepstone and six against Murchison hospitals.
This is unacceptable and raises serious concerns about the quality of medical care offered to patients who rely on the state to look after them. Many of the claimants have stated that some of the nurses have a bad and uncaring attitude. There should be no place in our hospitals for such people.
