…Researched and contributed by Babatunde Lucas.
Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has expressed her gratitude to a security officer at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital who played a key role in reuniting a newborn baby with its biological parents after it was mistakenly handed over to the wrong family.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, 18 April 2023. The mother, aged 35, had given birth to a baby boy on Monday, 17 April, and was discharged from the hospital with the wrong baby. The security officer noticed that the baby boy had a name tag that did not match the mother’s and immediately alerted the nursing staff.
The incident highlights the importance of hospital staff following standard operating procedures, particularly when it comes to the discharge of patients.
In this case, the team on duty did not follow the established protocol, resulting in a mix-up that could have had disastrous consequences.
Thanks to the quick thinking of the security officer, however, the mistake was identified and corrected in a timely manner.
The mother and her baby were safely returned to the hospital where health checks were conducted to ensure the baby’s well-being before he was reunited with his biological mother.
In addition to the trauma experienced by the affected families, the incident has raised concerns about the effectiveness of hospital protocols and procedures.
The families have agreed to undergo DNA and related tests to conclusively determine the parentage of the babies involved.
The Gauteng Department of Health has apologized for the error and has promised to take corrective action to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of vigilance and adherence to established protocols in ensuring the safety and well-being of patients.