The tiny coffin of a two-day-old baby bears sombre testimony to the alleged impatience of maternity staff to go off duty.

  The grief-stricken mommy clutches the blue baby-grow to her breast and chokes back the tears.  She will forever regret that her baby died because, when she needed it most, her strength let her down.

  Potchefstroom Hospital assessed Maria Masigo (37) and found she was a candidate for normal birth after undergoing a caesarean section ten years ago, according to Mr Nico Masiu, spokesperson for Potchefstroom Hospital.

  While gynaecologists are not keen on normal delivery after a caesarean, the success rate is high if proper monitoring is done throughout labour.  This is where Maria alleges that the hospital let her down.

  According to her she arrived at the maternity ward at around 11:00 on Saturday 21 January.  She was still in labour by late afternoon, when maternity personnel were preparing to end their shift.  Maria’s inability to bear down and deliver the baby was frustrating the staff, who were getting increasingly irritated with her.

  “They kept telling me to push but I couldn’t – I was weak,” she says, shaking her head as if in defeat. One of the sisters grabbed her hand roughly and yanked it to where the little boy’s head was crowning. 

  “They kept shouting at me and telling me to push – they said they want to go home,” she says.

  Frustrated and irritable, the staff allegedly walked out of the delivery room and told her the night shift would take over.  This claim was later refuted by Masiu, who says the midwives did all the necessary interventions and management to assist the patient through labour.

  “They also called for assistance from the attending doctor for further management,” he says.

  On arrival of the night staff Maria desperately told them that she did not have the strength to deliver her baby. It was only then that they called the doctor to intervene.  Keletso was born shortly after change of shift.

  “The doctor pushed down on my stomach and the baby came out,” she says.

  The little boy only lived for two days.  He was buried on 25 January.   

  Although those present at the delivery deny that they were harsh with the patient, Masiu says the hospital upholds the principles of Batho Pele and patients’ rights.

  “We will get to the bottom of this and we undertake to retrain our staff on customer care.  We aim to reinforce the importance of health professionals’ communication to patients,” he added.

  “Ms Gloria Tlhapi (CEO) and hospital management regret the experiences the patient had whilst admitted to our hospital.  It is regrettable that staff sought the co-operation of the patient, but fatigue inevitably overwhelmed her during labour.  We extend our sympathy to the mother and father for the unfortunate loss of their baby,” Masiu says.

* According to Masiu Potchefstroom Hospital clinical management held a consultation/redress meeting with the parents on 6 February, when explanations and clarity about the incidents during and after labour, and counselling were provided. 

  “Based on the outcome of patient safety group recommendations, the internal disciplinary process will unfold.  The family will be kept abreast of the outcome of the investigation,” he concluded.