BARA BABY CRISIS WILL LEAD TO AVALANCHE OF CLAIMS

The reported deaths and avoidable brain-damage of babies at the Chris Hani Baragwanath as a result of a staff shortage will lead to an avalanche of medical negligence claims against the Gauteng Health Department.

This hospital already faces 17 medical-legal claims totalling about R10 million for alleged negligence leading to brain damage and cerebral palsy in new-born babies.

Judges are increasingly giving high awards in cases of this nature, as in the R9.25 million award to Prince Sibusiso Khanyi who was brain-damaged at birth at the Pholosong hospital.

More such awards will further drain the health budget, making it more difficult to provide quality service to avoid future negligence claims.

We have to stop the rot now. Ms Johanna More, the Chief Executive Officer of Bara, must be fired and replaced with a top class management team to turn the hospital around.

There must be accountability for the continued crisis at Bara which hits staff and patients badly.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, February 8 2012

Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter