SECURITY has been beefed up at Uitenhage Provincial Hospital following the attack of a nurse by one of three men who arrived at the hospital with a gunshot victim in their car on Sunday morning, 21 August.
A nurse told Daily Sun: “Nurses are becoming targets of rude patients. We want the health department to beef up security because we can’t continue to risk our lives.”
Eastern Cape health spokeswoman Yonela Dekeda said the incident happened shortly after 6.10am when the three unknown men demanded that nurses fetch the wounded man from their car.
“The nurses asked the men to bring the wounded man into the trauma unit. However, one of the men refused and punched one of the nurses in the face before proceeding to kick her. Before speeding off in a black Ford Fiesta, the men removed the wounded man from the car and threatened to return and kill everyone should the man die,” said Dekeda. The unknown man was declared dead on arrival.
“Workers are still too scared to report for duty. This has necessitated that patients and doctors be diverted to Laetitia Bam. The department has arranged for armed response to be at the facility as an interim measure.” said Dekeda.
