The Free State Department of Health’s spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, explains in this latest incident the patient’s bed caught fire hours after she underwent surgery and was isolated in a cubicle for Infection Prevention Control reasons. However, the hospital’s staff was able to remove her from the cubicle while she was breathing. Later, after she was evacuated and moved to a different ward, her condition changed and she was declared dead.

ALSA READ: Death of Pelonomi patient investigated

Mvambi further explains that used matches were found in the cubicle next to the burnt bed. All the other patients that shared the ward with the deceased were evacuated safely. Before her passing, she was assessed by both surgical and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) doctors and was diagnosed as having 10% burns on her waist and back. As her condition deteriorated, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed, with no success and she was declared dead. The SAPS, together with the fire brigade, were informed.

At the moment, a forensic post-mortem has been requested to establish the cause of death. “Staff members were debriefed by an EAP Practitioner and Occupational Health Coordinator,” Mvambi states. The patients involved were counselled and the incident was reported as a Patient Safety Incident.

This is the second death that is being investigated in almost a month. The first death occurred in late July, when a security guard at the Pelonomi Hospital found a patient on the ground in a pool of blood. The patient was transferred from the Dr JS Moroka District Hospital after sustaining burns. It was explained that the patient, during his admission at the Pelonomi Hospital, did not show signs of confusion nor signs of being suicidal. In addition, there were no signs of alcohol or substance withdrawal. The police were informed about the incident and after their arrival, a criminal investigation detective and a forensic team arrived. This incident is also still under investigation.

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