Health Department to release 'babies in boxes’ report

JOHANNESBURG - North West Health will release a report on babies kept in boxes at the Mahikeng Provincial Hospital.

Newborns were placed in cardboard boxes instead of incubators.

READ: Mahikeng Hospital staff in hot water for placing newborn babies in boxes

Images of the babies went viral on social media.

They were wrapped in hospital blankets with nasogastric tubes.

Nursing union Denosa says there were only 25 incubators to cater for the over 55 births on the day.

READ: Mahikeng Hospital receives 18 incubators

It says nurses have been complaining of a shortage of equipment for a long time.

The nursing manager was put on precautionary suspension until investigations are completed.

Meanwhile, 18 new incubators have now been delivered to the hospital.