The Western Cape Health Department denies anyone was in danger recently when a wounded alleged gangster was assisted at the Vanguard Community Health Centre.
TygerBurger reported earlier this week that a father who had gone to the centre with his severely injured daughter had to wait until a person shot in the buttocks was seen by medical personnel. The 8-year-old girl had cut her fingers on a steel plate.
Feared for lives
Deon Jansen said at the time he and other patients feared for their lives because they had heard from police officers that shooters were on their way to “finish the job.”
Local ward councillor Angus McKenzie was also angered by events.
Spokesperson for the Health Department, Jihaan Opperman, on Friday said to ensure the safety of patients and staff they initiated an immediate safety protocol. “Following this incident our safety protocol was activated and the facility was placed on lockdown,” she said. “Access gates were closed, with entry allowed only through the pedestrian gate. The gunshot patients were safely treated and transferred, and at no point was the safety of the hospital environment compromised.”
Priorities
Opperman reiterated the department’s stance that all patients accessing care at Vanguard CHC are treated with care. “The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, including Vanguard CHC, uses the triage system to treat patients based on the severity of their condition. Urgent life-threatening cases are prioritised, while stable patients may experience longer waiting times depending on the number of patients requiring care at the time.”
