The Gauteng health department has addressed allegations of negligence after Nicholas Johannes van Burick’s body allegedly remained unattended for hours at Helen Joseph Hospital.
Luba Lesolle / Gallo Images
The Gauteng department of health has defended its handling of the death of Nicholas Johannes van Burick (34), following claims that his body lay neglected for hours while flies swarmed around it at Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg.
These allegations were made by former broadcaster Thomas Holmes, also known as Tom London (51), in a viral Facebook video over the weekend that exposed the dire conditions at the public hospital, showing poor toilet facilities and taps without running water.
London, who discharged himself from the hospital after signing a refusal of treatment form, said that Van Burick was terminally ill and left unattended after his death on Saturday morning.
London explained:
So, we knew that he was going to die. At around 6pm on Saturday, he died, and he was left there for hours in a bed just a few metres from me.
READ: ‘Flies came through the window’: Tom London details appalling conditions at Helen Joseph Hospital
He added that flies quickly descended on Van Burick’s body, worsening the situation.
“When he died, they [the flies] went to his body, and about another 200 flies came through the window … I was lying in a bed with flies that were now running all over my skin and crawling over my water glass.”
Nicholas Johannes van Burick.
Another patient in the same ward, distressed by the presence of the corpse, reportedly wheeled himself out of the room and into the passage.
In response to the public outcry, Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko met with London and hospital management on Sunday.
Health department admits delayed body removal
Motalatale Modiba, the spokesperson for the Gauteng department of health, told City Press that while the protocol for handling deceased bodies at the hospital had not been adhered to strictly, the body was removed after two and a half hours, instead of the mandated one hour.
Modiba explained:
Upon the demise of the patient, attempts were made to contact the family using the cell phone number provided in the patient file, but it went to voicemail.
READ: Wits med students reminded about proper bedside manner after shocking Helen Joseph Hospital exposé
The police were notified to open a case in accordance with the Inquests Act, but they were also unsuccessful in reaching the family, Modiba said.
Eventually, contact was made with the family through a friend, and the body was claimed on Sunday.
Modiba emphasised the department’s commitment to improving service delivery and addressing staff attitudes as part of their I Serve With a Smile campaign.
He acknowledged the challenges but stressed that efforts were being made to improve infrastructure and patient experience, particularly as the government pushes forward with the National Health Insurance Bill.
Investigations underway
Lesufi’s office informed City Press that the issue surrounding public hospitals in Gauteng, particularly the situation involving London and Van Burick, is currently under investigation, with further comments to be provided at a later stage.
Sizwe Pamla, the premier’s spokesperson, said:
The matter is being investigated, and the premier will only comment once the facts are clear. The premier has acknowledged and supports the provincial campaign called I Serve With A Smile, which is aimed at improving staff attitude and patient experience of care.
“This initiative was launched in November last year and is being rolled out across all healthcare facilities.”
READ: ‘My mom, please call my mom’: Desperate patient’s dying wish denied at Helen Joseph Hospital
Meanwhile, Cicilia van Burick, Nicholas’ mother, revealed in a Facebook post that her son’s memorial service will be held in Krugersdorp on Thursday.
Cicilia told News24 she had been searching for her son since July and only learnt of his death through London’s phone call.
A devastated Cicilia said:
I couldn’t even be there for him and be by his bedside in his dying moments. I had to find out the hard way after already losing a daughter and my husband as well. It broke me. How much more must a woman go through?
City Press reached out to both London and Van Burick’s family for further comment, but at the time of writing, no responses had been received.
Thapelo Lekabe
www.news24.com
