By Obakeng Maje
Taung- The family of Nkwe is aggrieved after their father, David Ikwaleng Nkwe was taken to Manthestad village clinic after he experienced chest pains.

They allegedly arrived at the Manthestad clinic at around 19h15 on Saturday(27 September 2014) and a 69-year-old man allegedly experienced some complications after one hour while waiting for an ambulance.

Nkwe was vomiting and convulsing after some time, and his family suggested to use their own transport to take him to Taung hospital which is only 18km away, but according to family member, the nurses vehemently refused.

“We took my brother to Manthestad clinic after he complained about chest pains. He was conscious when we arrived at the clinic. He started to have inhaling difficulties after an hour and the nurses called for an ambulance, which it never came” Moganetsi Nkwe said.

According to Moganetsi, who is a younger brother to the deceased, said his brother would’ve been alive if the nurses did not refuse to let them take their brother to the hospital because there was no ambulance.

“The deceased passed away at around 21:45pm after there was no sign of an ambulance. The nurses said the district has only two ambulances which one of them was at Taung Cultural Calabash and the other one was in Kimberley delivering another patient” he said.

They believed if only the nurses allowed them to use their private vehicle to transport the patient, Nkwe would’ve been alive and they put a blame solely on the department as they alleged they were failed.

However the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Health Director Ruben Matsepe said the nurses did what they could’ve done, but unfortunately this turned out this way.

“This is an unfortunate event because the district have five functional ambulances. The patient arrived in deteriorating condition at the clinic and the nurse in charge tried to stabilize him and called for available ambulance” Matsepe said.

According to Matsepe, all four ambulances were on the field where 15 people died on Hartswater crash.

“The only ambulance that was available was obstetric ambulance that is designed only for labour women, but unfortunately the family demanded their patient. The patient died while our nurse was busy filling confirmation forms that outlines the family demands release of their patient without our consent” he said.

The family won’t hear any of the department’s excuses and want the department of health to be held accountable.

The deceased was buried on Saturday.(04 October 2014).-TDN
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