State hospitals turn away critically injured pedestrian

A critically injured pedestrian was turned away by two state hospitals in Johannesburg on Monday morning, officials said.

“We are still gathering information as to why she was turned away,” said Gauteng health spokesperson Mandla Sidu.

“We are trying to ascertain if it had anything to do with the doctors’ strike,” he added, referring to an ongoing illegal strike by some state doctors protesting against low salaries and poor working conditions.

ER24 spokesperson Werner Vermaak said its paramedics responded to an accident involving a pedestrian on the corner of Grayston and Katherine drives in Sandown at about 6.30am.

“When paramedics arrived on the scene they found a female patient that was in a critical and unstable condition. The patient sustained multiple injuries to her head as well as her pelvis and lower limbs,” said Vermaak.

He said the paramedics tried to stabilise her and then contacted the closest hospital to confirm it could accept the patient.

“Charlotte Maxexe hospital was the closest appropriate provincial hospital at the time and thus was contacted.

“Unfortunately the hospital’s emergency ward was already full with critical patients and therefore other provincial hospitals in the area were contacted, but none could accept the patient,” said Vermaak.

“ER24 contacted the metro control to confirm which hospitals are open and available for critical patients. With this information, numerous hospitals were contacted and no hospital in the area could accept the patient.”

The paramedics then arranged for the patient to be stabilised at Morningside MediClinic, which is a private hospital.

“Helen Joseph Hospital eventually accepted the patient. The patient is currently being stabilised at Morningside MediClinic,” said Vermaak.

Sidu said two hospitals turned the woman away.

He said the Health Department should have more information on what happened later on Monday.—Sapa