South Africa: Pregnant Woman Left Waiting As Ambulance Is Denied Entry to Eastern Cape Hospital
[Health-e] Security guards refused ambulance access to Frontier Hospital. Pregnant woman left waiting for 30 minutes while in distress. Eastern Cape health department has apologised and is investigating.
A pregnant woman in the Eastern Cape of South Africa claims she was left waiting at the entrance of Frontier Hospital in Komani for up to 30 minutes after security guards allegedly denied entry to the ambulance carrying her. The Eastern Cape Department of Health apologized and is investigating the incident. Lerato Mzwakali, the pregnant woman, was rushed from her local clinic to a specialist after nurses warned her she could lose her unborn child if she did not receive urgent care.
In video footage, the ambulance can be seen waiting outside the hospital entrance while security guards kept the gate closed. Mzwakali was angry that private cars and even a pizza delivery scooter were allowed through the gate. She was eventually allowed entry and given stabilizing treatment, but was discharged the same day. The hospital's spokesperson, Siyanda Manana, stated there was no strike by the security guards and that the matter is being investigated. The hospital has faced complaints about staff shortages and overcrowding in the past.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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