Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu should resign or be fired “over the deaths of psychiatric patients at the unsuitable NGOs in which they were placed after being discharged from Life Healthcare Esidimeni”.
That’s according to the Democratic Alliance’s Jack Bloom‚ who said on Thursday: “My view is that nearly all the 36 patients that have died in the last four months would probably still be alive if they were kept at Life Healthcare Esidimeni.
“She should resign or be fired by Premier David Makhura.”
National Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said he had asked the Health Ombudsman to investigate the deaths‚ after he had held a marathon consultation with Mahlangu on Wednesday afternoon.
Bloom said he welcomed the probe‚ which “needs to be done speedily and professionally to ensure than no evidence is lost”‚ but insisted that Mahlangu was at fault.
“The ultimate blame falls on Mahlangu who failed to take sufficient steps to ensure the orderly transfer of patients to reputable NGOs.
She had‚ Bloom said‚ “persisted in cancelling the long-running contract with Life Healthcare earlier this year despite warnings that more time was needed to find suitable alternative facilities”.
“Her disclosure that patients were sent to NGOs without clinical files that included their medical histories shows how reckless these transfers were in putting patients at risk‚” he added.
“It was only after I asked an official question in the Gauteng Legislature that she revealed the bombshell news that 36 patients had died in the NGOs in a period of about four months.” – TMG Digital
‘Health MEC must resign or be fired over psychiatric patients’ deaths’
Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu should resign or be fired “over the deaths of psychiatric patients at the unsuitable NGOs in which they were placed after being discharged from Life Healthcare Esidimeni”.
That’s according to the Democratic Alliance’s Jack Bloom‚ who said on Thursday: “My view is that nearly all the 36 patients that have died in the last four months would probably still be alive if they were kept at Life Healthcare Esidimeni.
“She should resign or be fired by Premier David Makhura.”
National Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi said he had asked the Health Ombudsman to investigate the deaths‚ after he had held a marathon consultation with Mahlangu on Wednesday afternoon.
Bloom said he welcomed the probe‚ which “needs to be done speedily and professionally to ensure than no evidence is lost”‚ but insisted that Mahlangu was at fault.
“The ultimate blame falls on Mahlangu who failed to take sufficient steps to ensure the orderly transfer of patients to reputable NGOs.
She had‚ Bloom said‚ “persisted in cancelling the long-running contract with Life Healthcare earlier this year despite warnings that more time was needed to find suitable alternative facilities”.
“Her disclosure that patients were sent to NGOs without clinical files that included their medical histories shows how reckless these transfers were in putting patients at risk‚” he added.
“It was only after I asked an official question in the Gauteng Legislature that she revealed the bombshell news that 36 patients had died in the NGOs in a period of about four months.” – TMG Digital
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