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A pregnant woman has died after allegedly falling out of a first-floor window at Thelle Mogoerane Regional Hospital in Vosloorus.
Her unborn baby also died.
Speaking to TimesLIVE, National Education, Health and Allied Worker’s Union (Nehawu) branch secretary, Brammer Ramogayane, who was on duty when the incident occurred, said the woman had been admitted to ward 17 more than a week before the incident.
Ramogayane alleged that the woman was epileptic and had shown signs of a psychiatric condition that were not recorded in her medical file.
He said the woman was a few weeks’ pregnant.
Ramogayane said that at about 8am on November 4, the woman went to a bathroom shared by wards 17 and 4.
She allegedly walked past the security office before entering the staff bathroom.
He claimed there was no security monitoring at the entrance and that the woman fell through a window to the ground floor.
The window allegedly did not have burglar bars.
“The woman was rushed to the hospital’s casualty department for emergency medical attention,” he said.
Nehawu expressed concern about the incident and called for accountability, saying it hoped the circumstances would be properly investigated.
Gauteng department of health spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that a serious patient safety incident had occurred at the hospital, involving a pregnant woman who later died.
“The department takes all patient safety incidents extremely seriously and, as such, we have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident,” he said.
When asked about the medical assistance provided to the woman and her baby, and the circumstances surrounding their deaths, Mabona said the details relating to the patient’s clinical management and medical interventions were confidential.
“Our deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” Mabona said.
TimesLIVE
Kabungane Biyela
www.timeslive.co.za
