Pregnant woman left waiting as ambulance is denied entry to Eastern Cape hospital

A pregnant woman in the Eastern Cape was left waiting for up to 30 minutes outside Frontier Hospital in Komani after security guards allegedly denied the ambulance carrying her entry. The incident, which occurred last Wednesday, saw the ambulance waiting outside while private cars and even a pizza delivery scooter were allowed through the gate.

The Eastern Cape Department of Health has apologized to the patient and is investigating the incident. Lerato Mzwakali, who is six months pregnant, was rushing to see a specialist after nurses warned she could lose her baby if she did not receive urgent care. Video footage shows the ambulance waiting outside the hospital entrance as security guards remained at the gate.

Mzwakali says the gate opened for private cars and other vehicles, but not for the ambulance with an emergency patient inside. The Eastern Cape Department of Health has launched an investigation into the matter, stating that there was no strike by security guards at the hospital.