An investigation into the deaths of 22 babies from klebsiella bacteria at Durban’s Mahatma Gandhi hospital was ”another cover-up”, an organisation representing the parents said on Wednesday.
”How can the killers investigate the deaths of babies they have killed?” asked Alvin Brijlal, spokesperson for the non-profit organisation Voice.
This comes after the health department announced on Tuesday that a task team had been appointed to review all deaths in neonatal units — including the nurseries and intensive care — at Mahatma Gandhi hospital over the last three years.
”They haven’t provide the names of the people on the task team. It should be a team of independents so that we can get to the bottom of this tragedy. If there was a cover-up before how do we know there won’t be a cover-up now?” Brijlal said.
The health department said its investigation would include ”all allegations of outbreaks. A preliminary report will be available as a matter of urgency and a full report will follow as soon as possible thereafter”.
Voice and its legal team of advocate Kessie Naidu and attorney Rajesh Heerallal are preparing to take legal action against the health department.
On Wednesday Brijlal said he had blood reports which showed there was a klebsiella outbreak at the hospital in 2003.
”At least 48 babies died of neonatal ICU infections during January and May 2003,” said Brijlal.
Voice was still considering claims for damages and pressing criminal charges.
The health department said it’s task team comprised experts in paediatrics and/or neonatal care, medical microbiology, infection control and pharmacy.
The department said every death in a public hospital was reviewed and investigated as normal practice.
”This enables the department to improve the quality of care and is standard practice in health delivery and care of patients.”
The department said the task team was expected to report within two weeks, and would work with another team that was reviewing infection control and current practices throughout the department.
The department said it had already implemented the recommendations in the report of a more narrowly focused investigation into klebsiella infections at Mahatma Gandhi hospital.
The report was released by Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang earlier in July.
All hospitals in the province were implementing the recommendations of the report and reviewing their practices where necessary in order to reduce any further outbreaks, the department added. – Sapa