Pretoria psychiatric patient illegally admitted, denied food and meds - Ombud
The Health Ombud has found serious irregularities into the admission and care of a psychiatric patient at the Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital in Pretoria.
This follows the death of a patient at the facility.
The 35-year-old female patient, Lerato Mohlamme, died after a fire broke out in her seclusion room at the hospital in June 2024.
Investigation found that the patient had a cigarette lighter in her possession when admitted, which likely caused the blaze.
The inquiry into the incident was initiated by the South African Human Rights Commission.
Health Ombud, Professor Taole Mokoena, briefed the media in Pretoria on Monday.
The Health Ombudsman found that when Lerato Motlhamme was admitted, she was not examined by two doctors as required.
The patient was denied food and prescribed medication deliberately as a form of punishment,
Motlhamme's room was located far from the nurses’ station and lacked adequate monitoring.
Other patients raised fire safety concerns; however, they were dismissed by the staff, and emergency exits were locked or inaccessible.
"This resulted in systemic violations of the rights of mental health care users, including punitive practices, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient staffing, and limited knowledge of the Mental Health Care Act."
Post-mortem results confirmed she was alive when the fire broke out, suffering severe burns and high blood carbon monoxide levels.
- RECOMMENDATIONS-
The ombudsman called on the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the South African Nursing Council (SANC) to investigate implicated staff at the hospital.
The recommendations are directed to the hospital, to the Gauteng Department of Health led by MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, professional regulatory bodies and other oversight structures.
These include the strengthening of compliance with the Mental Health Act
Improving the infrastructure, ensuring proper staff training, and enforcing requirements for reporting abuse.
"Protecting the dignity, safety, and the rights of mental health care users is not an option; it is a constitutional and legislative imperative," he said
"Enhancing patient safety systems in the hospital and in the psychiatric units in particular is of paramount importance."
"Instituting appropriate disciplinary and professional accountability processes on the implicated professionals."
George Makari Hospital has been urged to procure certified fireproof mattresses.
The ombudsman further said the psychiatric unit is currently not fit for purpose and must be refurbished.
"The whole hospital needs to be refurbished, if not rebuilt," said Mokoena
The Gauteng Health Department has, over the years, come under fire for medical negligence and inadequate health care, most recently with the Life Esidimeni.
In 2016, 141 people at psychiatric facilities in Gauteng allegedly died from starvation and neglect when they were moved from the Life Esidimeni facility to unlicensed and unprepared NGOs.
The tragedy has been described as one of the biggest human rights violations in the country.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said they will ensure that the recommendations are implemented.
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