Question NW3090 to the Minister of Health

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13 October 2022 - NW3090

Profile picture: Ismail, Ms H

Ismail, Ms H to ask the Minister of Health

(1)With regard to shooting incidents taking place within public health care facilities, (a) what is the procedure of taking a prisoner to a hospital for health care, (b) what are the responsibilities of the health care facilities assigned to the SA Police Service members while at the facility, (c) to whom do they report if they have to suddenly leave and (d) what are the strategic guidelines of the whole process from the prisoner leaving prison to the time he/she is returned after receiving health care; (2) what (a) total number of violent incidents have been recorded at each public health care facility in the past five years and (b) are the relevant details of each violent incident; (3) whether he will furnish Ms H Ismail with a list of facilities where the violent incidents have occurred; if not, why not; if so, on what date?

Reply:

(1)        The following table reflects the details in this regard.

North West

(1)

(a) what is the procedure of taking a prisoner to a hospital for health care,

(b) what are the responsibilities of the health care facilities assigned to the SA Police Service members while at the facility

(c) to whom do they report if they have to suddenly leave

(d) what are the strategic guidelines of the whole process from the prisoner leaving prison to the time he/she is returned after receiving health care;

The prisoner warden / guard accompanies the patients in health facilities and stay with them through out until they leave the health facility.

  • SAPS / Correctional Services takes care of prisoners as outpatients and inpatients.
  • During consultation, they are being prioritized, as they do not follow the queue. When admitted they are under-guard by SAPS/Correctional Services
  • The Correctional Service department make prior arrangements with the hospital for the retrieval of files and immediate medical treatment at Casualty and out patients departments.

 

Operational Manager, doctor, nurses and security

Procedure lies with the department of Correctional Services. However, the responsible nurse from Correctional Services Facility will arrange a booking at the hospital in advance. The hospital will retrieve the prisoner’s file 2 days before the actual date of appointment.

 

Once in the facility, the prisoner will be processed while balancing the rights of the other patients and that of the prisoner. The prisoner remains under guard right through every step of care until the last working station which is pharmacy and exit the facility.

 

(2)        The response is as follows:

 

(2)

Facility

what (a) total number of violent incidents have been recorded at each public health care facility in the past five years

and (b) are the relevant details of each violent incident;

Klerksdorp / Tshepong Hospital

6

  • 03/02/2022 at 02:45, a mentally disturbed patient fought with the nurse and security officer at Casualty.
  • 06/03/2022 at 02:20, a patient fought with the security at casualty and broke the window.
  • 22/03/2022 at 11:40, a gang brought their friend with a gunshot wound, when the Doctors referred their friend to Tshepong they threw tantrums.
  • 19/06/2022 at 01:00, two armed men gained access to the doctor’s quarters and robbed doctors.
  • 15/08/2022 at 20:00, a gangster was shot and brought to Tshepong Hospital, other gang members followed him to the hospital to try and finish what they started. SAP had to be called for assistance.

13/08/2022, there was an attempt to abduct a female Doctor at the doctor’s quarters, guards fired four shots and the intruders ran away.

 

Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital

None

 

Mafikeng Provincial Hospital

5

House breaking with force entry

Robbery at gun point

Employees fight using a child

Theft using force

Gang fights

 

Potchefstroom Hospital

4

A psychiatric patient stabbed a nurse

One patient was followed by others to finish him

Another psychiatric patient attacked the security guard and a nurse

A family who wanted to enter the hospital by force and slapped the security guard.

Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital

2022 – Two (02)

2021-2018 - None

2022 (01) – Intoxicated patient physically assaulted nursing staff in Casualty.

2022(02) – Staff member physically assaulted in Radiology Department due to person grievances not pertaining to work. 

Witrand Hospital

0

None

Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital

0

None

Klerksdorp / Tshepong Hospital

Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital

Mafikeng Provincial Hospital

Potchefstroom Hospital

Joe Morolong Memorial Hospital

Witrand Hospital

Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital

The hospitals have electricity backup (Generator) which only covers clinical/patient areas, Load shedding affects areas that are not on backup as follows:

  • Safety issues (break-ins, opportunistic theft, attacks, etc.)
  • Communication breakdowns (non-availability of systems such PERSAL, BAS, Walker, emails, internet, etc), delay in capturing of invoices.
  • Damage to equipment’s
  • High costs incurred on fuel
  • Water interruption due to the water pumps filling water slowly in the reservoirs 

 

 

         

 

 

Northern Cape:

(1)

(a) what is the procedure of taking a prisoner to a hospital for health care,

(b) what are the responsibilities of the health care facilities assigned to the SA Police Service members while at the facility

(c) to whom do they report if they have to suddenly leave

(d) what are the strategic guidelines of the whole process from the prisoner leaving prison to the time he/she is returned after receiving health care;

The prisoner warden / guard accompanies the patients in health facilities and stay with them through out until they leave the health facility.

  • SAPS / Correctional Services takes care of prisoners as outpatients and inpatients.
  • During consultation, they are being prioritized, as they do not follow the queue. When admitted they are under-guard by SAPS/Correctional Services
  • The Correctional Service department make prior arrangements with the hospital for the retrieval of files and immediate medical treatment at Casualty and out patients departments.

 

Operational Manager, doctor, nurses and security

Procedure lies with the department of Correctional Services. However, the responsible nurse from Correctional Services Facility will arrange a booking at the hospital in advance. The hospital will retrieve the prisoner’s file 2 days before the actual date of appointment.

 

Once in the facility, the prisoner will be processed while balancing the rights of the other patients and that of the prisoner. The prisoner remains under guard right through every step of care until the last working station which is pharmacy and exit the facility.

 

(2)       

 

(2)

Facility

what (a) total number of violent incidents have been recorded at each public health care facility in the past five years

and (b) are the relevant details of each violent incident;

Windsorton Clinic

1 – 2018

  • Nurse assaulted by psychiatric patient (outpatient) – waiting too long to receive medication.

RMSH A&E

5 – 2018

6 – 2019

5 – 2020

3 - 2021

 

  • Patient assaulted nurse (shocked death of family member and way nurse relayed message)
  • Drunk patient
  • Psychiatric patient attack security trying to steal food.
  • Triage waiting period (violence patient)
  • Mental patient damaged drs vehicle (stone thrown windscreen).
  • Patient threatened guards with knife.
  • Dr threatened by family (child died) to shoot him.
  • Aggressive patients A&E (swearing staff)
  • Patient arrested for rape treated at hospital threatened staff verbally.
  • 72-hour observation attacked guard (clothes ripped).
  • Two Fleet employees assaulted one another.
  • Patient threatened staff (gun in car not confirmed) – casualty.
  • Professional Hitmen shot patient recovering in ward (gang related).
  • Gun threat, Mental patient (arrested with unlicensed firearm).
  • Buck horn taken off patient entering casualty to receive treatment.
  • 4 x gun-shot wound victims treated (gang-related). Staff threatened not to work unless security increased.
  • 72-hour ward – one patient attacked another using food-tray.
  • Khoocs – foreigner verbal threat to shoot.  Racial tension patients waiting.
  • Knife found in sleeve of patient being treated (who came in unconscious in ambulance).

Springbok (Dr Van Niekerk) Hospital

1 – 2018

1 - 2021

  • Psychiatric patient attacked guard who caught him stealing food out of kitchen.
  • Patient under alcohol influence assaulted staff.

Prof ZK Matthews Hospital, Barkly

1 – 2018

1 – 2019

  • Mental patient broke doors.
  • Staff striking at facility – burn tyres and blocked entrance.

Hopetown Clinic

1 – 2018

  • Nurse assaulted patient coming for treatment (long waiting time for assistance)

Kuruman Hospital

1 – 2018

3 - 2020

  • Union disruptions
  • Kidnapping patient – saps caught (CAS215/09/2020)
  • Guard stabbed with knife by patient trying to enter.
  • Guard assaulted and attacked with knife stopping gangs entering.

MaDoyl Clinic

1- 2018

 

 

 

1 – 2020

  • NGOs contracting Health Care Workers (HCW) – threaten to close clinics (absorption into Health)
  • Alleged knife threat by staff (to close clinic) – victimization concerns COVID.

EMS Control Room, Kimberley

1 – 2018

  • Assault (domestic dispute at work)

Colesburg Nursing home

1 – 20108

1 – 2019

  • Attach nurse in flat (domestic).
  • Drunk visitors refused entry – vulgar language security.

Bill Pichard Hospital, Prieska

2 – 2019

  • Rape victim threatened rapist family at hospital.
  • Gang violence following victim to hospital.

Harmony Home

2 – 2019

  • Assault patient by guard (patient stole guard’s money – mental patient).
  • Mental patient attacked guard and ripped uniform.

Ritchie Clinic

1 – 2019

  • Social worker / nutritionist threatened after removal malnutrition children from mother

De Aar Hospital

1 – 2019

 

 

 

 

1 – 2020

  • Foreign nationals entered with knives – threat to nurses (x-ray equipment not working). Gang-related violence.
  • Assault by mental patient.

Ipeleng Clinic

1 – 2019

  • EPWP workers strike – burn tyres and blocked entrance to facility.

Hopetown Clinic

1 – 2019

  • Mental patient fight with staff (waiting for medication issue).

Pampierstad Nursing home

1 – 2019

  • 3 males jumped fence and attacked staff residing to steal.

City Clinic

1 – 2019

  • Municipal strike action – threats.

Loeriesfontein Clinic

1 – 2019

  • Nurse assaulted by boyfriend at clinic.

WESH (Mental B3)

2 -2019

  • Mental patient alleged assaulted security guard (stole money).
  • Patient attacked guard with hair clipper.

Victoria West Hospital

1 – 2020

1 – 2021

  • Gang violence hospital (threat at hospital when gang arrived whilst person was receiving treatment).
  • Malicious damage of front door – psychiatric patient.

Oliphantshoek CHC

1 – 2020

  • Assault and public violence (drunk visitors)

New Mental Health Hospital

3 – 2020

1 - 2021

  • Patient assaulted guard with metal coffee mug.
  • Patient assaulted guard (needed medical attention and clothes ripped).
  • Attempted escape of mental patient who tried to flee whilst being transported in ambulance to RMSH (overpowering staff).
  • Guard assaulted by 4 unknown suspects fled theft power-station copper.

Connie Vorster Hospital, Hartswater

1 – 2020

  • Mental patient (broke window)
  • COVID protest

LAdams Clinic

1 – 2020

  • Patients threaten staff.

Beaconsfield Clinic

1 – 2021

  • OPD Patient threaten staff.

EMS Kuruman

1 – 2021

  • Guard overpowered by 5 unknown suspects (hostage situation) theft.  CAS 799/03/2021

Galeshewe Day Hospital

1 – 2021

1 - 2022

  • Guard attacked with sharp object (eye injury).
  • Assault – maternity patient slapped nurse.

Dr Winston Torres Clinic

1 – 2021

  • Patient slapped guard refusing entry (skipped queue).

Jan Kempdorp Hospital

1 – 2021

  • Emotional trauma patient damaged property – broke door after death of family.

Carnarvon CHC

1 – 2022

  • Assault – 4 drunk people tried to enter facility and assaulted security.

Pampierstad CHC

1 – 2022

  • Mental patient threaten staff (OPD).

Dr Harry Surtie Hospital, Upington

1 – 2022

  • Aggressive visitor with patient under influence of alcohol removed by SAPS.

Valspan Clinic

1 – 2022

  • OPD mental patient threaten staff.

 

Free State

(1)

(a) what is the procedure of taking a prisoner to a hospital for health care,

(b) what are the responsibilities of the health care facilities assigned to the SA Police Service members while at the facility

(c) to whom do they report if they have to suddenly leave

(d) what are the strategic guidelines of the whole process from the prisoner leaving prison to the time he/she is returned after receiving health care;

The prisoner warden / guard accompanies the patients in health facilities and stay with them through out until they leave the health facility.

  • SAPS or Correctional Services takes full responsibility for the prisoners admitted and for outpatients at health facilities.
  • Prisoners are prioritized at health facilities and don’t follow the queue. Prisoners when they

 are admitted are under SAPS and   Correctional Services watch.

  • The Correctional Service department make arrangements with the facilities and responsible for opening for files and collection of medical treatment.

Doctor, Operational Manager, nurses and Security Officers on duty.

Procedure lies with the department of Correctional Services. However, the responsible nurse from Correctional Services Facility will arrange a booking at the hospital in advance. The hospital will retrieve the prisoner’s file 2 days before the actual date of appointment.

 

Once in the facility, the prisoner will be processed while balancing the rights of the other patients and that of the prisoner. The prisoner remains under guard right through every step of care until the last working station which is pharmacy and exit the facility.

 

(2)       

(2)

Facility

what (a) total number of violent incidents have been recorded at each public health care facility in the past five years

and (b) are the relevant details of each violent incident;

Universitas Academic Hospital

4

Porter fought with the messenger.

The cleaner fought with the messenger.

ATM bombed and Security Officers were pointed with firearms.

Break in and 31 computers stolen

Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital

3

Security Supervisor assaulted by community member.

Female Security Officer assaulted by psychiatric patient 

Male Security Officer assaulted by psychiatric patient.

National District Hospital

2

Psychiatric patients fought with Security Officers and nurses in two different incidences.

Bongani District Hospital

0

 None

Boitumelo District Hospital

1

Security Officer fought with the patient where Security Officer broke his leg.

Botshabelo District Hospital

0

None

Dr JS Moroka Hospital

0

None

Fezi Ngubentombi District Hospital

1

Intoxicated patient assaulted Security Officer and the nurse.

Sinorita Nhlabathi District Hospital

0

None

Free State Psychiatric Complex

Several

Patients fighting each other

Parys District Hospital

0

None

Tokollo District Hospital

0

None

Mafube District Hospital

0

None

Winburg District Hospital

1

Two nurses fought each other

Katleho District Hospital

0

Messenger fought with cleaner

Thusanong District Hospital

0

None

Mohua District Hospital

0

None

Nala District Hospital

0

None

Elizabeth Ross District Hospital

1

Patient fought with nurses and Security Officers

Phekolong Nketoane District Hospital

1

Gangsters fought with Security Officers at the gate because they wanted to force to see the patient.

Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli Regional Hospital

1

Visitors fought with nurses and Security Officers claiming they are from far and wanted to see their patient.

Diamant District Hospital

0

None

Stoffel Coetzee District Hospital

0

None

Embekweni District Hospital

0

None

Dihlabeng District Hospital

0

None

Thebe Phumelela District Hospital

0

None

Winburg District Hospital

0

None

       

 

Eastern Cape  

 

(1)

(a) The inmate is accompanied and guarded by the warden/ guard team into the health facility, through the entire visit to the facility.

 The hospital have a fast line leeway for inmates visiting the hospital, especially when hospital booking system have been followed to the various clinics of the hospital

(b) The inmates consult on a booked appointment schedule; they receive priority consultation to avoid subjecting them in long queue in health facilities. This is in line with hospital standard operating procedures.

(c) If there is any unexpected eventuality in a form of   incident, it is reported, firstly to the hospital CEO, Head of clinical Governance to the doctors, nursing service manager staff and the security officers.

(d) The Correctional Services officials bear responsible for safeguarding procedure of the inmates upon egress point of the health facility up until the exit point and safe return to the correctional facility. In accordance to the Correctional Services Act.

(2)       

(2)

Facility

what (a) total number of violent incidents have been recorded at each public health care facility in the past five years

and (b) are the relevant details of each violent incident;

Fort England Psychiatric Hospital

(Sarah Baartman District)

 

 

1

10/06/2019 - One in-Patient stabbed another in-patient with a sharpened thick piece of wood on the forehead and left eye

Bisho Hospital

(Buffalo City Metro)

 

1

19/01/2019- Assault of a security officer by a patient

Nomangesi Jayiya Clinic (Nelson Mandela Bay Health District)

 

1

13/01/2022- Security guards were attacked/ assaulted by 4 thugs.

Nelson Mandela Metro Health District

 

 

38

EMS personnel have been victims of crime in the Gqeberha Northern areas. there has been no fatalities;

  • 2019- 26 attacks
  • 2020- 6 attacks     
  • 2021- 5 attacks
  • 2022- 1 attack

Information from other remaining provinces is still being collated and will be furnished as soon as it is received.

 

 

END.

Source file