Family of woman who died after paramedics allegedly deserted her may launch civil claim

The family of a Durban woman who was allegedly abandoned by paramedics after experiencing breathing problems have asked the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) to investigate.

Thembeka Sikhosana died at Prince Mshiyeni Hospital in Umlazi on Thursday, two weeks after paramedics allegedly refused to walk up a flight of stairs on June 25.

Her sister Mbalenhle Sikhosana said Thembeka had been born with a congenital heart condition but it had been managed until two weeks before she was hospitalised.

On that Sunday night, Mbalenhle said they called an ambulance at about 6pm and it responded at about 8pm.

“They said paramedics no longer leave the ambulance to fetch patients inside the house without a police escort because they were being robbed and said no police car would be available at that time on a Sunday,” she said.

They carried her sister with the help of neighbours to the ambulance but she started shaking and having difficulty breathing.

“We asked for a stretcher but they said they can’t give that either. They said we were wasting their time and left.”

Mbalenhle said they were told by the call centre they would not send another ambulance and they found a private car to transport her sister to Umlazi U clinic.

“The nurses there were worried that her breathing and blood pressure were low. They stabilised her before calling an ambulance which took her to Prince Mshiyeni at about 11pm,” she said.

The department of health has been playing mind games ... because they are not communicating with us. I’m disappointed with them because they are lying that I’m unreachable, yet everyone else can reach me

—  Mbalenhle Sikhosana

The two implicated paramedics have been suspended pending the outcome of the investigation into the matter.

She said they took turns to feed her sister in the hospital because she was too weak to eat herself.

Mbalenhle was joined by the DA KwaZulu-Natal leadership who helped them lay a complaint with the SAHRC on Wednesday.

DA shadow minister of health Michele Clark said Thembeka would’ve been better off if she had been given the treatment she needed and been stabilised in the ambulance.

“Healthcare is on life support because we see this happen every day,” she said.

DA provincial leader Francois Rodgers said they would make inquiries to track the movements of the ambulance on that day. Such incidents have resulted in the province having R20bn in medical-legal claims, he said.

“The MEC [Nomagugu Simelane] must not tell us this is due to unscrupulous lawyers. It’s the failure of her department,” he said.

The DA would assist the Sikhosana family to put together a civil claim against the department as Thembeka was the sole bread winner in the family.

Department spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa said the family had responded to the department’s efforts to engage them on redress with “arrogance” and refused to co-operate.

Maphisa alleged Thembeka’s sister had also made “sudden changes” to her initial statement.

“It is critical to note the department has followed correct processes in this matter, which entailed the immediate transfer of the patient to a higher level of care, and to suspend the two paramedics implicated to allow the investigation to continue unhindered,” said Maphisa.

However, Mbalenhle denied changing her statement. She said she had been kept in the dark about developments in the investigation after making her statement.

“The department of health has been playing mind games ever since because they are not communicating with us.

“I’m disappointed with them because they are lying that I’m unreachable, yet everyone else can reach me. They told me they can’t speak to me until the investigation is done. I don’t even know who is in charge of the investigation.”