Since giving birth by Caesarean section last year at Tembisa Hospital,
20-year-old Mpho Nombewu says she has suffered painful complications. Nombewu
has been advised by different doctors she consulted about her condition to
return to the facility where she gave birth.
But Nombewu refuses, telling
Spotlight she is scared she might die due to Tembisa Hospital’s reputation for
patients suffering serious adverse events (SAEs).
SAEs in this context refers to events that result in unintended harm to a
patient because something was or wasn’t done as part of a patient’s care,
rather than because of the underlying disease or condition of the patient.
Since giving birth by Caesarean section at Tembisa Hospital in 2020, Mpho Nombewu says she has suffered painful complications. The 20-year-old has been advised by different doctors she consulted about her condition to return to the facility where she gave birth.
But Nombewu refuses, telling Spotlight she is scared she might die due to Tembisa Hospital’s reputation for patients suffering serious adverse events (SAEs).
An SAE in this context refers to an event that resulted in unintended harm to a patient because something was or wasn’t done as part of a patient’s care, rather than because of the underlying disease or condition of the patient.
The rate of serious adverse events resulting in unintended harm to patients is disturbingly high in Gauteng public hospitals. Thabo Molelekwa spoke to health activists and government to find out what is causing these risky events and what is being done to curb them.