The Eastern Cape department of health is investigating allegations of assault after a 90-year-old woman was injured, allegedly after being admitted to a Peddie hospital.
Nongubuzelo Sikoli was admitted to Nompumelelo Hospital last Monday after she complained of mild chest pains and fever.
Family said the elderly woman was fine when admitted, but claimed her arm was broken and wrist twisted a few days later. She also had bruises on her upper body.
Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the department would investigate the allegatio ns.
Sikoli’s daughter Lindiswa said her mother had initially been taken to Wesley clinic for a check-up.
A nurse at the clinic told them to wait for a doctor, who later suggested that she be transferred to Nompumelelo Hospital for further observation.
“While we were at the clinic she was fine, there were no broken limbs. But a few days after she was admitted at this hospital, she came out with broken bones,” Lindiswa alleged.
“We could not figure out what happened and she was crying. Imagine a 90-year-old person crying in pain. We asked nurses and they could not tell us what had happened.”
Lindiswa claimed the woman had difficulty lifting a spoon.
Another relative, Nolusizo, also said nothing was wrong when Sikoli was first admitted.
“She was just feeling sick. But when she went to that hospital, she came out with visible bruises and a broken arm and twisted wrist.
“We suspect that she was assaulted, either by another patient or the staff,” Nolusizo alleged.
Family said the woman was moved from the ward she was first admitted to.
“She was left in an empty ward all by herself, in pain. There was no explanation to us why a 90-year-old was left alone,” said Nolusizo.
The family reported their suspicions to senior hospital management, who suggested that the woman have X-rays done.
The Dispatch was shown X-rays, which clearly show a fracture.
“All we hear now is that some staff members are saying she is mentally-disturbed, but we can’t see that,” said Nolusizo.
The woman was then transferred to Frere Hospital in East London where a cast was placed on her arm. However, family said the elderly woman was still complaining of pain.
“We decided to take her to Port Alfred Hospital and the medical doctors here have decided to transfer her to Port Elizabeth’s Livingstone Hospital for an operation,” said Lindiswa.
Kupelo assured the family that the department would look into the matter.
“We will attend to this and make sure that we also escalate it to senior management of the hospital. This will definitely be investigated.”
Family claims woman 'assaulted' at hospital
Nongubuzelo Sikoli was admitted to Nompumelelo Hospital last Monday after she complained of mild chest pains and fever.
Family said the elderly woman was fine when admitted, but claimed her arm was broken and wrist twisted a few days later. She also had bruises on her upper body.
Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the department would investigate the allegatio ns.
Sikoli’s daughter Lindiswa said her mother had initially been taken to Wesley clinic for a check-up.
A nurse at the clinic told them to wait for a doctor, who later suggested that she be transferred to Nompumelelo Hospital for further observation.
“While we were at the clinic she was fine, there were no broken limbs. But a few days after she was admitted at this hospital, she came out with broken bones,” Lindiswa alleged.
“We could not figure out what happened and she was crying. Imagine a 90-year-old person crying in pain. We asked nurses and they could not tell us what had happened.”
Lindiswa claimed the woman had difficulty lifting a spoon.
Another relative, Nolusizo, also said nothing was wrong when Sikoli was first admitted.
“She was just feeling sick. But when she went to that hospital, she came out with visible bruises and a broken arm and twisted wrist.
“We suspect that she was assaulted, either by another patient or the staff,” Nolusizo alleged.
Family said the woman was moved from the ward she was first admitted to.
“She was left in an empty ward all by herself, in pain. There was no explanation to us why a 90-year-old was left alone,” said Nolusizo.
The family reported their suspicions to senior hospital management, who suggested that the woman have X-rays done.
The Dispatch was shown X-rays, which clearly show a fracture.
“All we hear now is that some staff members are saying she is mentally-disturbed, but we can’t see that,” said Nolusizo.
The woman was then transferred to Frere Hospital in East London where a cast was placed on her arm. However, family said the elderly woman was still complaining of pain.
“We decided to take her to Port Alfred Hospital and the medical doctors here have decided to transfer her to Port Elizabeth’s Livingstone Hospital for an operation,” said Lindiswa.
Kupelo assured the family that the department would look into the matter.
“We will attend to this and make sure that we also escalate it to senior management of the hospital. This will definitely be investigated.”
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