News24 | Patient dies in front of Limpopo clinic after security guard denied him access due to load shedding

A man died at the entrance of Northam Clinic, Limpopo after a security guard denied him entry to the facility.

• A patient has died after being denied access to a clinic in Limpopo.
• Security guards had denied him access due to load shedding.
• The patient died outside the clinic while waiting for Emergency Medical Services.

A patient died at the entrance of Northam Clinic, Limpopo on Saturday after a security guard denied him entry to the facility.

The man's family had brought him to the clinic around 03:00 on Saturday. At the time, the patient was bleeding from all his bodily orifices, according to the Limpopo Department of Health.

But instead of allowing the family access, the security guard informed them that due to load shedding, they would not open for them, but instead gave them contact numbers for emergency medical services.

READ | Patient dies after bed catches fire at Bloemfontein hospital

According to the department, the man had already died by the time the ambulance arrived.

"Nurses on duty were only informed after the patient had died," the department added.

MEC Phophi Ramathuba said: 

She added: "We reiterate our plea to security guards to adhere to their duties and refrain from triaging patients, a responsibility outside their expertise. Our heartfelt condolences go to the family of the deceased."

Her spokesperson Thilivhali Muavha told News24 that the clinic is in fact operational during load shedding.

Meanwhile, Eskom has announced that Stage 6 load shedding over the last few days has allowed the power utility to replenish its emergency reserves, with Stage 4 being implemented from midday on Sunday.