PROTESTERS who gathered outside Wentworth Hospital on November 26, dispersed after the hospital’s management team failed to come out to meet with them.

The angry residents sang songs outside the locked gate of the hospital, demanding to see the hospital management.

Also read: WATCH: Patients, security guards clash at Wentworth Hospital

This is a second march this year to Wentworth Hospital and was led by the hospital committee, residents and NPOs. The first march, which saw over 200 protesters participating, was held on October 1.

The marchers are still demanding that the management of Wentworth Hospital put strategic plans in place to fix the deep-seated problems hindering the functioning of this health facility.

Among the residents who joined the protest were family members of patients who recently died while being treated in the hospital.

Family members of the patients who died while at the healthcare facility demand action

Christina Amos said her husband, Richard, died in July 2023 at the hospital.

Christina claims that during one visit to her husband she picked up a bottle with blood samples near her husband’s bed. She explained that her husband had fluid in his stomach that had to be drained. She claims that the hospital failed her and her husband died.

Also read: No end in sight to challenges at Wentworth Hospital

“The blood samples taken were never submitted to the laboratory. We found one bottle near his bed,” she said.

The march started at the Austerville Community Centre and ended at the Wentworth hospital.

One of the members of the Wentworth Hospital Committee, Andre de Bruin, said they embarked on the second march because the management had not delivered on its promises.

The protesters demand action be taken on the following:

• Alleged negligence by staff members that resulted in the death of patients
• The lack of the hospital’s management to act swiftly to the complaints raised by patients
• The alleged unfair treatment of patients, including those on chronic medication
• Staff members who refused to treat patients

Metro police and Wentworth police members kept a close eye on the protesters as they started gathering outside the premises of the health facility.

After an hour, protesters dispersed peacefully, with the police presence following suit. Attempts to get a comment from Wentworth Hospital were unsuccessful.

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