An East London woman has demanded that disciplinary measures be taken against staff at Life St Dominic’s Hospital for alleged negligence after she found her policeman brother, a patient with head injuries, wandering around half-naked in Southernwood.
Nomfundo Gqadu said she got the shock of her life on December 31 when she found her older brother, Ntsindiso Mpetsheni, 47, in a confused state after leaving the hospital “unnoticed” wearing a T-shirt and boxers.
She said she had just left the hospital as security guards had told her to come back during visiting hours.
Mpetsheni was admitted on December 27 after a car crash.
“At first I thought he was just a madman walking around, but to my shock it was my own brother. When I asked him where he was going, he gave me incoherent stories.
“He was so disorientated.”
Gqadu said she kept her brother entertained for close to two hours as she was afraid of agitating him, before taking him back to hospital.
When they returned to Life St Dominic’s, nurses allegedly admitted that they hadn't reported him missing to hospital management even though they were aware that he wasn’t in his bed. “Instead, the sister in charge just shouted at us and accused us of getting her into trouble with her bosses.”
Gqadu said no remedial action had been taken against the nurses, even after she submitted several complaints about the incident.
“All we’ve received from the hospital are endless excuses. No follow-up, nothing.
“They didn’t even record it on his hospital file even after I asked them to, because this happened while he was under their care. We are still waiting for an apology for what happened.”
Mpetsheni, who has since been discharged, recalled being shouted at by nurses after Gqadu brought him back to the hospital.
“There’s a lot that I’m unhappy about regarding my stay there,” he said.
“I even heard doctors telling my fiancée that I only had 48 hours to live, but by God’s grace I’m still here.”
He said he also wanted disciplinary measures to be taken against the nurses.
Life Border-Kei regional manager executive Bruce Janssens said: “Life St Dominic’s Hospital confirms that Mr Mpetsheni’s doctor consulted with him at 1pm on the day of the incident and saw no signs of confusion.
“Hospital staff confirmed that Mpetshini regularly left the ward to make use of the smoking area at the hospital so they did not find it unusual that he was not in the ward for some time. Approximately 1.5 hours post the doctor’s consultation, Mpetshini arrived at the ward with his sister, and staff then became aware that he had left the hospital’s premises after the doctor’s consultation.
“Life St Dominic’s places the safety and wellbeing of its patients at the forefront of its care and ensures at all times that patients are provided the care that they require.”..