Following reports in which various complaints were made about the service at Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital, hospital management issued a statement urging patients and their families to lodge complaints with staff directly.
Last November Eikestadnuus reported on the death of 10-month-old Mileeck Newman at the local hospital.
Little Mileeck’s family said he died due to the action or, rather, the lack of it, of hospital staff. Since then patients have come forward with a variety of complaints after their own visits to the hospital.
Eikestadnuus is publishing the statement by Handri Liebenberg, director of the Cape Winelands District Health Services for the provincial health department:
“In recent weeks concerns about specific patient experiences at Stellenbosch Hospital have been raised with the Department of Health and Wellness, aside from outrage expressed in the media and social media.
“I want to use this opportunity to assure our community their concerns matter, and they have our full and urgent attention.
“We have initiated thorough reviews into the matters raised. This includes speaking directly with patients and their families as well as with healthcare workers who were on duty at the time.
“Where shortcomings are identified we will take decisive steps to address them and strengthen patient care. Continuous improvement is not negotiable for us, it is critical to providing our communities with safe and efficient health-care services.
“To the patients and families affected we extend our sincere empathy. We recognise that uncertainty adds to distress and we are working to finalise these reviews as quickly and responsibly as possible, without compromising fairness or accuracy.
“We also acknowledge the concern felt by the wider community. When trust in health-care services is shaken, it affects everyone.
“At the same time, we are bound by ethical and legal duties to protect patient confidentiality and the rights of staff. For this reason detailed findings will be shared directly with affected families, relevant staff and senior management, and corrective actions will be implemented through the appropriate channels.
“Public hospitals serve thousands of people every month, and most patients receive care from dedicated professionals working under significant pressure. That said, even one patient who feels unheard or poorly treated is one too many.
“Feedback from patients and visitors is therefore essential. We encourage anyone with concerns to raise them with healthcare workers on duty or facility management, so issues can be addressed promptly and appropriately.
“My message to the Stellenbosch community is simple: your care and your concerns are our priority.
“We are listening, we are acting and we remain committed to providing safe, respectful and reliable health care to every person who depends on our services.”
