A pregnant Eastern Cape teen has accused the health department of negligence after she fell out of a moving ambulance in a “nightmare ordeal”.
Aphindiwe Mali, 19, of Lugangatho Village near Ntabankulu went into labour on Monday night. She was being rushed to hospital when the vehicle door flew open and her stretcher rolled out.
The baby was stillborn.
Health department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said two paramedics had been suspended pending an investigation and disciplinary action.
Mali, in a telephone interview with the Daily Dispatch from her home, yesterday described her nightmare.
She had called an ambulance when she started feeling labour pains on Monday. It arrived at about 8pm and Mali was being rushed to Siphethu Hospital in Ntabankulu.
The emergency medical services (EMS) official who was supposed to be in the back with her sat upfront with the driver.
“I felt the stretcher move and I held on to it. Before I knew it, the stretcher slid out of the ambulance and fell on the ground.
“The ambulance did not stop,” said Mali yesterday. “I was so scared. It was so dark where I was. I did not know where to go or what to do. I was close to a forest. It was scary.”
A passing motorist saw the pregnant woman crying on the side of the road and came to her rescue.
“They took me in the car and rushed me to hospital.
“I was in so much pain.”
Mali said the ambulance driver was asked where the patient was when he arrived and he reportedly said he did not know.
“When I got out of the car he apologised. I was not interested because I was in pain,” added Mali.
Mali gave birth to a stillborn baby girl. The baby had already been named Luniko, which means gift. The cause of the baby’s death has not yet been established.
“I want them to pay for what they did to me and my child. I cannot go to school now because I am in pain. My back is sore, I struggle to walk long distances.”
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo confirmed the two EMS officials have been suspended.
“They left the patient unattended and the rear door opened.”
Kupelo said the good samaritan who had picked up the young woman had tried to signal the ambulance by flicking their lights.
“We are very upset as the department because our main goal is to improve services. We have two ambulance drivers for a reason – one will drive and the other has to take care of the patient. It was negligent to leave a patient unattended.”
Kupelo said an internal disciplinary process will decide their fate.
Health MEC Phumza Dyantyi said the department was still investigating. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za