Health Minister ready to appoint tribunal over patient deaths in Gauteng

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says he’s prepared to establish a tribunal if any parties dispute the health ombud’s findings into two patient deaths in Gauteng.

This follows damning reports into the death of psychiatric patient Lerato Mohlamme at George Mukhari Academic Hospital and a neonatal death at Netcare Femina Hospital.

The investigations found systemic failures, including poor patient care, safety breaches and governance issues with the neonatal case linked to incorrect medication and breakdowns in communication.

Motsoaledi said while affected parties have the right to challenge the findings, government will continue to act on the ombud's recommendations unless a court rules otherwise.

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He said a tribunal led by a retired judge or magistrate can be established, provided there is sufficient evidence to support claims that the process was flawed.

“So people always take issues on review but the fact that they were found guilty does not mean we will stop doing what we have to do until such time that a retired judge or magistrate passes a verdict that there’s something wrong with the Health Ombud report as long as there’s nothing like that we will take appropriate action and report to the ombud.”

Meanwhile, the Gauteng government has already indicated it will implement the ombud’s recommendations, including disciplinary action against those implicated.