HEADLINES:
R/€ Hospital staff nabbed for copper theft
December 28, 2006 Edition 1
Three Port Elizabeth hospital officials have been caught red-handed stealing copper wire, Eastern Cape Health Department spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said yesterday.
The three had since been suspended, he said.
"We are busy preparing for their disciplinary hearing, which should be early next year."
The arrests, just before Christmas, followed a spate of copper thefts from the Dora Nginza Hospital.
The arrests had not put a stop to the thefts, however, as another copper line had been stolen over the weekend.
The thieves' reckless cutting of pipes had endangered patients' lives as it disrupted the flow of oxygen to operating rooms, Kupelo said.
He said copper theft was especially rife during December.
The hospital ran out of oxygen last year because of a leak caused by copper theft.
"Patients had to be transferred to other hospitals, but luckily no-one died," he said. - Sapa
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