Question NW2130 to the Minister of Health
20 August 2018 - NW2130
Dreyer, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Health
(1)What was the cause of death of the twins who were born to a certain person (name furnished) at the Tambo Memorial Hospital; (2) what is the (a) optimal and (b) actual number of (i) doctors, (ii) nurses and (iii) other specified health professionals at the Tambo Memorial Hospital; (3) (a) what are the names of the health professionals who were in attendance while a certain person (name furnished) gave birth to her twin babies, (b) in which theatre did she give birth to her twins and (c) why were the twins not placed in an incubator; (4) whether he has taken any action against any of the specified health professionals for alleged malpractice; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (5) whether the medication Tramadol is unsafe to use during pregnancy; if so, what action is his department taking against the doctor who allegedly prescribed it to the specified person?
Reply:
1. The cause of death of the twins was extreme prematurity. The foetuses were not viable in terms of gestational age.
2. (a) and (b) (i) The actual number of doctors at the Tambo Memorial Maternity Complex:
- 2 x Senior Medical Officers
- 1 x Medical Intern
- 1 x Consultant
(ii) The actual number of nurses at the Tambo Memorial Maternity Complex:
- Day Duty
- 1 x Operational Managers (work until 16h00)
- 4 x Midwives (one is dedicated for caesarean sections)
- Night Duty
- 4 x Midwives (one is dedicated for caesarean sections)
(iii) Other Clinical Support at Tambo Memorial Complex
- Social Workers;
- Psychologists;
- Anaesthetic: Medical Officer and Consultant;
- Paediatricians: Medical Officer and Consultant
3. (a) to (c) The patient delivered vaginally spontaneously and the twins died immediately after birth due to extreme prematurity.
4. No health professionals were found to have acted wrongly.
5. Tramadol is safe in pregnancy.
END.