Enquiry commission not necessary

GABORONE - There is no need for a commission of enquiry on the deaths and injuries of patients at Lobatse Mental Hospital, says Assistant Minister of Health, Mr Gaotlhaetse Matlhabaphiri.
He said his ministry is aware of the allegations of patient injuries at the hospital that have been reported in local newspapers, and that investigations were carried out to determine the substance of the allegations.
The findings of these investigations have not revealed any acts of negligence or harmful practices towards patients.
All incidents that have resulted in patient injuries as recently reported in the media were not out of character with the unfortunate incidents that sometimes occur in the normal course of treating patients with severe psychiatric illness, Mr Matlhabaphiri said.
He added that his ministry has found that the attending medical staff took all reasonable care and diligence in all the reported incidents.
The MP for Lobatse, Mr Nehemiah Modubule, had asked the assistant minister whether he does not consider setting up a commission of enquiry to look into the problem of deaths and injuries that are now frequent at the hospital and are a concern to society.