First on EWN: Woman loses baby in hospital horror
A woman in labour allegedly cried for help but was ignored by staff of Rahima Moosa Mother & Child Hospital.
JOHANNESBURG - Patients at the Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital in Johannesburg have described as 'absolutely heartbreaking' the treatment nurses allegedly gave to a woman who went into premature labour and ended up losing her baby.
The patients have told Eyewitness News they watched in horror as the mother screamed in pain and cried for help but was ignored and even insulted by the staff, eventually forced to give birth without any help.
Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu said an investigation has been launched into what happened at the ward and whether the nurses are guilty of what they've been accused of.
Stephanie Dyker was at the same ward when the drama unfolded.
She claimed the nurses called the woman stupid before shouting at her and telling her to stop crying.
They then allegedly ordered her to go and wash herself, even though this was moments after the baby died.
Dyker said she and other patients tried to get nurses to help the woman, but had no luck.
"The baby was kicking and moving and she started going crazy and screaming, 'sister please help me, my child is still alive'".
She said the baby was born alive but died while they fought with the nurses to get them to assist.
She said she's shocked by the nurses' behavior.
"We were traumatised, I even started crying. She tried cleaning the baby's nose even [saying], 'please baby please, oh please help me, baby please…'"
The mother did speak to EWN, but was too distraught to grant an interview.
A private lawyer has offered to assist her.
