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TAKING ACTION: Baragwanath Hospital CEO Johanna More. PHOTO: BAFANA MAHLANGU

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Godfrey Tenehi and his girlfriend Dimakatso Molefe were brought to the hospital on July 1 suffering from burn wounds after their shack burnt down.

Tenehi's brother Tedisa is accusing the hospital of turning his brother away, leading to his death.

However, the hospital said there was simply no space to accommodate him.

Doctor Sehularo Gaelejwe, the hospital's senior clinical executive, said communication should have been sent to the emergency services to take the patient to another hospital. "Our trauma unit was on diversion, which means that it was full. We had 20 patients that day, and the most we can take is 16.

"The ambulance should therefore not have brought the patient here. He was in such a bad shape that he could not even go to the general hospital's ICU."

The hospital said it still made efforts to admit Tenehi. Head of the emergency and trauma units Doctor Frank Plani said: "It was a very bad prognosis as the patient had 100% burn wounds. When another patient died, the patient [Tenehi] was quickly brought in."

Even then, added Plani, it was clear that Tenehi had no chance of surviving. "In such cases where patients do not stand any chance of surviving, we put nasal tubes into them so that they do not choke when regurgitating. The aim is to make death less painful."

But Tedisa disputes this: "They refused to admit him, saying there was nothing they could do for him without even making an attempt to save his life. Instead of trying to help him, the nurses instead told us to pray."

Baragwanath's CEO Johanna More said: "Our doctors did their best under the situation."

Comments

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Fri May 24 22:06:11 SAST 2013 ::

Jul 12, 2012

Memme

Im not suprised at all.
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Jul 12, 2012

MaRantsane

Morning Memme
Very sad indeed i listened to Jozi FM shame maan it was not nice when the Brother told the media how his brother died
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Jul 12, 2012

Mellow

Excuses excuses excuses fact is this is how public hospitals works its not suprising at all so they claim he was already knocking on teh heavens door well sadly thats just not enough
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Jul 12, 2012

MommaC

"We had 20 patients that day, and the most we can take is 16."

Are they shitting us? The hospital is supposed to cater for the whole area and they only have space for 16 people in the trauma wing? WTF!. Thank the gods we aren't on a fault line or subject to other natural disasters or our country would be completely screwed
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Jul 12, 2012

MaRantsane

sowetan:( my comments or maybe ha le batle ke jwetse batho go e tsahetseng please sowetan
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Jul 12, 2012

MaRantsane

please sowetan people need to know whats happening give me access mos there is no vulgur there im trying to tell those youve missed the show on Jozi
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Jul 12, 2012

BaleliM

This is just so pathetic. A hospital is supposed to look at a patient even though there is no space, stabilize and then send off to another hospital. So which hospital in the area did they expect the emmergency services to take this patient?
The complainant is not lying, i have first hand experience on how heartless those nurses are.
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Jul 12, 2012

MaRantsane

please thusang sowetan ha e mpatle
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Jul 12, 2012

CAKE1

Akere they are busy giving tenders to their friends instead of giving it to qualified committed citizens.
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Jul 12, 2012

Papage

"Even then, added Plani, it was clear that Tenehi had no chance of surviving. "In such cases where patients do not stand any chance of surviving, we put nasal tubes into them so that they do not choke when regurgitating. The aim is to make death less painful."

I am sick and tired of people who think they can predict ones live, if this woman says Tenehi had no chance of surviving, how did she knew that? It is bad how our own people who are surpose to nurse and doctor us are just useless. Some people are not called to do public work, but are doing it for the money. I cant beging to emagine that Soweto as big as it is, Their biggest hospital has only 16 beds for burnt victims, it is a disgrase, they must check their heads, where is the Premier, Nomvula vula vala talk to your people, we are getting sick and tired of them. I am not surprised petiants attack doctors and nurses at hospital
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