By: Natasha Archary

Five nurses at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital have been placed on precautionary suspension for gross negligence after a patient died.
A video which was captured by a member of the public shows nursing staff at the hospital ignoring cries to help the 28-year-old male patient who was struggling to breathe on the hospital floor.
In the video, a concerned woman who was waiting at the hospital’s Emergency Unit went to get the nurses who were allegedly on their phones and showed no urgency to help the patient in distress.
The incident occurred on Sunday, 25 February and unfortunately the patient passed away.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 06 March the Gauteng Department of Health has confirmed that 5 nurses have been placed on precautionary suspension to allow for further investigation into the incident.
“Five nurses from the Steve Biko Academic Hospital (SBAH) have been placed on precautionary suspension by the facility management following allegations of gross negligence.
This emanates from an incident at the hospital involving a 28-year-old male which was captured on video by a member of the public at the Emergency Unit on Sunday, 25 February.
The unfortunate incident happens at the time when the Steve Biko hospital is strengthening interventions to improve patients’ experience of care.”
The Department says in addition to the nurses being placed on precautionary suspension, the hospital’s management has been conducting frequent walkabouts across various departments within the hospital to assess the level of service delivery, and to interact with patients.
MEDIA STATEMENT || FIVE STEVE BIKO ACADEMIC HOSPITAL NURSES ON PRECAUTIONARY SUSPENSION FOLLOWING NURSE INCIDENT pic.twitter.com/UCtQgyH638
— Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) March 6, 2024
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