The Life Healthcare Group has launched an internal investigation into how the fake doctor who allegedly raped a patient gained entry to its premises.
A teenage mother was allegedly raped on Tuesday at St Mary’s Private Hospital hours after she had given birth, by a man who pretended to be a doctor.
In a short statement to the Dispatch on Wednesday, Life Healthcare Eastern Cape regional manager Bruce Janssens confirmed the alleged rape at the top Mthatha private hospital.
“Life St Mary’s Private Hospital has been made aware of the alleged incident that took place yesterday and is investigating the matter internally along with cooperating fully with the authorities.“The security of our patients is a priority in our hospitals and we wish to assure the community of our commitment to the delivery of quality care in a safe and secure environment,” he said.The group avoided specific questions relating to the security at their facilities.
The rape allegation comes three months after East London police arrested a woman fake doctor at the group's St Dominic's hospital in East London on June 1.
The woman, Zimkita Tom, 27, was alleged to have posed for a yet unknown number of days as a doctor– apparently with a stethoscope around her neck and walking the hospital’s corridors.
Life healthcare had denied that Tom had had any contact with patients.
Tom was arrested three days later after returning to the hospital. The Mthatha police have since opened a rape case and arrested a 30-year-old for raping a 17-year-old patient...