Motsoaledi demands answers on hospitals' deadly negligence
He said poor leadership led to the tragedy.
'I can guess that they don't even have management meetings, even mortality meetings — because if they did, some of these things would've been picked up.
'I'm particularly disappointed about the RMSH because I was there when the hospital was opened. It was one of the best. In my speech I mentioned that for it to be one of the best, it needed the management to be on their toes all the time. It means that didn't happen. They had facilities that many other hospitals didn't have, so there is a failure of management.'
The Northern Cape department of health welcomed the health ombudsman's investigation report and committed to improving patient care.
'The department recognises the critical importance of mental health services and the vulnerability of psychiatric patients,' spokesperson Lebogang Majaha said.
'We are dedicated to implementing necessary improvements to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.'
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