A nurse at Thabong Clinic within the Free State was assaulted by a male affected person on the morning of Friday 16 January. Talking on situation of anonymity, the nurse relayed the incident to Well being-e Information.
“He acted acquainted, like somebody who knew me earlier than as we speak. However for me, it was a very new one who got here to the clinic for the primary time. I jokingly mentioned to him I’m going to tug my toes when it’s his flip,” she says.
“Once I requested for affected person IDs, he mentioned he didn’t have one. I ignored him, pondering he was additionally joking.”
Clinic employees want sufferers’ identification paperwork to situation and retrieve affected person information. It was at this level that the person began insulting the nurse. A verbal change ensued and shortly escalated.
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Thando Shopo, who witnessed the incident, believes the affected person was unsuitable. “It’s a identified indisputable fact that earlier than getting your file, you must present your ID. However the man was not utilizing the best phrases to clarify his points. He insulted the nurse and threatened to beat her.”
One other affected person who was on the clinic on the time of the incident, Lesego Mekhoe, says: “He started to forcefully open the door of the reception space and beat the woman. Nobody helped the employee as a result of the man had been threatening to shoot everybody who may intervene.”
“He beat me with fists and kicked me. My physique is aching. It’s exhausting for me to stroll, and I have ache in my ribs,” the nurse tells Well being-e Information.
Free State well being spokesperson Mondli Mvambi says the affected person went on to assault the clinic supervisor, who had tried to intervene and resolve the matter.
The suspect was arrested and charged with assault. He’s presently out on a warning and can seem in court docket on 26 January.
“The division will conduct an intensive investigation into the matter and discover measures to forestall related incidents sooner or later. As an employer, we now have a accountability to make sure the security of our workers,” say well being MEC, Viceroy Mahlatsi.
The nurse is receiving counselling.
This isn’t the primary case of a nurse being assaulted by an sad affected person at Thabong Clinic.
In 2024 a person poured a bucket of faeces over a nurse as a result of he was annoyed by the lengthy ready time. The person, who was on parole on the time, was arrested and charged. In 2025 he was discovered responsible of assault and sentenced to 18 months in jail. He has since been launched from jail. – Well being-e Information
