Johannesburg – Heartless thieves cut and made off with copper tubing that supplied oxygen to very ill patients at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital.
The thieves cut a 10-metre copper pipe, which supplies oxygen to various sections of the main Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the 3 400-bed hospital, said Tshepo Shawa, Spokesperson for the Gauteng MEC for Health.
Shawa said the theft was discovered on Monday morning (19 December 2022.
“When clinicians at the facility noticed that the flow of oxygen was lower than normal they reported the matter to the Department of Infrastructure Development, which is responsible for the plant room where the stolen pipe runs,” said Shawa.
“This led to the discovery that the oxygen supply pipe was tampered with.”
A case has since been opened with the Diepkloof SAPS.
“The people who stole the copper pipe should not just be charged with theft but also with attempted murder,” suggested Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
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“They intentionally put the lives of 24 patients at risk, 19 of whom were on life support and depended on access to oxygen through artificial ventilation.”
Nkomo-Ralehoko added: “Fortunately, the patients were immediately evacuated to another ward where ventilation was continued.
“A contractor was immediately called on-site and the copper pipe has since been replaced.
“The process to move patients back into the main ICU will commence on Wednesday, (21 December 2022).”
Nkomo-Ralehoko called on the police to leave no stone unturned to bring the criminals to book.
