Bad staff attitudes, waiting for long hours for help and giving wrong medication to patients are some of the complaints to come out of Khayelitsha Hospital.

IFP Spokesperson on Health, Ms Hilda Msweli, MP said, "Patients have complained on numerous occasions about how rude nurses are and not seem to care about their patients. The issuing of the wrong medication to patients needs to be addressed urgently as this puts their lives at risk."

A patient diagnosed with kidney failure had recently been discharged from the hospital with wrong medication to treat her illness and this may have contributed to her deteriorating condition.

"We call upon the MEC for Health in the Western Cape, Mr Theuns Botha, to urgently investigate this matter and to ensure that patients' complaints are addressed quickly and disciplinary action is taken against those implicated," said Msweli.

The IFP also calls on the Minister of Health to implement a process of having a database with the details of all the nurses and doctors who have been associated with patient abuse complaints, and to even consider barring those involved in extreme cases from the health profession.

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IFP Parliamentary Caucus' Media Liaison Officer, Mr Phendulani Biyase, 073 024 5675

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