THE Wentworth Hospital has once again been hit by controversy after a mortuary worker was allegedly caught smoking and intoxicated on duty recently

A video that has gone viral on social media shows a man lounging in an office chair and smoking a cigarette.

The video was recorded in March and shared on social media platforms recently. The SUN established that the worker was suspended, however the hospital has yet to comment on the matter.

In the most recent incident a video shows a woman complaining that she has been unable to collect her deceased baby’s body, alleging that mortuary staff have not been helpful in facilitating the process.

The man in the video is heard mumbling words when the two women in the background demand answers.

Also read: Wentworth Hospital under scrutiny

One woman is heard in the video saying her baby’s body has been in the mortuary since February 19. According to the frustrated mother in the video, she claims that the mortuary staff were unable to follow the proper procedures to release the body.

Mother slams hospital over delay in releasing baby’s body

The grieving mother who asked to remain anonymous alleged that the delay was caused by the mortuary manager’s failure to complete the necessary paperwork to transfer the baby’s body to the Pinetown mortuary.

“You are sitting here and smoking a cigarette, and you smell [of alcohol]. How can you work like this? What is your role here? Why has my baby’s body not been transferred to Pinetown? You’re not doing your job,” she said.

She claims that every time her family went to the mortuary they would find the manager under the influence of alcohol.

Also read: Wentworth community confronts policing issues

“I am going through an extremely difficult time coping with the loss of my only daughter. She was my only child and it has been heartbreaking to know that her tiny body remained in the mortuary for so long. It took all the strength I had to go there myself to find out why the process was being delayed. I am deeply disturbed that someone could behave in this way in such a sensitive environment. There should be respect for both the deceased and the families they leave behind,” she said.

Community members speak out

Wentworth resident Andre de Bruin called on the KZN Department of Health to launch an internal probe.

“This video speaks for itself. However, suspension is not sufficient considering the trauma and disrespect the parent has had to endure. The fact that he was smoking in his office suggests to me that this has been going on for a long time,” he said.

The management of the Wentworth Hospital has yet to respond to the allegations made by the child’s mother.

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