Questions raised over ‘rushed’ removal of psychiatric patients from Life Esidimeni
THE Life Esidimeni inquest has heard how health officials at the facility had raised the alarm about the "rushed" removal of patients from the group's facilities, but these were allegedly ignored by the department of health in Gauteng.
The inquest continued yesterday. It is being heard virtually by the High Court in Pretoria.
The former managing nurse at Waverley Care Centre, Zanele Buthelezi, was re-examined by her lawyer, Advocate Harry van Bergen. She has been testifying since Monday.
Waverley Care Centre was one of several facilities run by Life Esidimeni which housed psychiatric patients on behalf of the Gauteng Department of Health.
The government terminated this contract in 2016 and transferred all patients to NGOs.
A total of 144 patients died after they were moved to NGOs. The inquest is attempting to figure out who should be held criminally liable for the deaths.
Yesterday Buthelezi was questioned on accusations against Life Esidimeni Waverley. The former head of mental health in Gauteng Dr Makgabo Manamela and other witnesses had alleged that Life Esidimeni had handed over patients with missing files, lack of medical records and medication.
Buthelezi denied this and said all patients left the facility with medication of varying amounts, seven days or 28 days, depending on whether they were being transferred to a hospital or an NGO. It was heard that health officials who were tasked with assisting with the transfer of patients from Waverley to NGOs had warned about various issues.
They were concerned about the preparedness of patients and whether the transfer was safe.
When these complaints were delivered to Manamela she said the job had to be done as requested by then health MEC Qedani Mahlangu. “All Waverley patients had to be transferred by May 31, 2016. We kept on telling Dr Manamela that the project was being rushed,” the health department said at the time.