Cape Town – A grandmother from Macassar, Cape Town, experienced a distressing shock when her 14-year-old grandson was mistakenly discharged from hospital and dropped off at her home, still connected to his intravenous drip and wearing his hospital gown. The incident has left the family deeply concerned and demanding answers from Tygerberg Hospital.
Teenager Rue-Wahl Bunding, who had recently undergone an appendectomy and was receiving treatment for an infection, was left outside his grandmother’s home still wearing hospital attire, with his drip, bandages and all medical equipment intact.
His grandmother, Anneline Hartzenberg, said she was shocked when she opened the door on Monday, 3 March and found him standing there after an ambulance dropped him off without any transfer documents. She explains: “I just heard a vehicle speeding off, and when I opened the door, there stood my grandson – still in his hospital gown, with a drip and bandages, and very weak. What if I wasn’t home? He is a minor – what would have happened to him?”
Ms. Hartzenberg says she immediately made her grandson comfortable on the couch while urgently contacting Tygerberg Hospital, but claimed the hospital was hesitant to send an ambulance. She adds: “They [the hospital] told me to bring him in myself, but I refused—what if something happened to him in a private vehicle?” she said. “They only came to fetch him five hours later.”
The incident unfolded on Monday, 3 March, when an ambulance inexplicably dropped Rue-Wahl off at his grandmother's house without any prior notice or transfer documentation. Anneline Hartzenberg, Rue-Wahl's grandmother, described her shock upon opening the door to find her grandson standing there, still clad in his hospital gown, connected to his intravenous drip, and visibly weak.
Ms. Hartzenberg's immediate concern was for Rue-Wahl's well-being, especially given his vulnerable state and the fact that he is a minor. She questioned what would have happened had she not been home to receive him.
After making Rue-Wahl comfortable, Ms. Hartzenberg urgently contacted Tygerberg Hospital to report the error and request an ambulance. However, she claims that the hospital was initially reluctant to send assistance, even suggesting that she transport her grandson to the hospital herself. Ms. Hartzenberg refused, fearing for Rue-Wahl's safety during a private transfer. It was only after a five-hour wait that the hospital finally dispatched an ambulance to retrieve the teenager.
The Western Cape Health Department has since admitted that the teenager was incorrectly dropped at home, instead of being transferred from Tygerberg Hospital to Helderberg Hospital. The teenager had initially undergone surgery at Helderberg Hospital, but after doctors discovered he had a serious infection, he was transferred to Tygerberg Hospital for further treatment. He was supposed to be moved back to Helderberg Hospital but was instead incorrectly discharged and dropped at home.
An internal investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances that led to this egregious error. The Western Cape Health Department has acknowledged the incident and expressed deep regret for the distress caused to Rue-Wahl and his family.
A statement from the Western Cape Health Department reads: “We acknowledge the incident involving Rue-Wahl and deeply regret the distress this has caused him and his family. An internal investigation is currently underway to understand what led to this incident and to ensure that appropriate measures are taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.” “We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience and concern this has caused and remain committed to providing quality care to our patients.”
