Tygerberg Hospital denies negligence claims after infant falls from incubator

Tygerberg Hospital has concluded an internal review regarding claims of negligence made by the parents of twins.

The parents alleged that one of the infants fell from a faulty incubator shortly after birth. The hospital’s investigation found no evidence of negligence or fault on the part of the institution or its staff following the social media allegations.

In its findings and response to the Cape Argus, the hospital stated that after a medical review of the claims, no evidence of negligence was found on the part of its staff, who were identified in the incident. The hospital further warned that should the matter escalate into a medico-legal case, the merits of the case could not be explored any further.

However, the parents expressed a different opinion, detailing that after the alleged “fall,” no doctor informed them of the potential consequences.

The Cape Argus has made extensive efforts to reach the parents for further comments after they took to social media a few days ago via Facebook but was unsuccessful..

In their detailed account of the alleged incident, the parents sought legal advice and claimed their newborn was found lying face down on the hospital floor, asserting that she had fallen out of a “broken” incubator.

The father of the twins wrote: “I am writing to seek your assistance in a matter involving medical negligence at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, on January 22nd, 2026. My fiancée gave birth to twin girls at the hospital, and they were placed in an incubator shortly after birth.

"Due to a broken incubator, the nurses moved our babies to another incubator that they knew was also faulty. When my fiancée returned from the bathroom, she found one of our daughters lying face down on the floor.

“The nurses failed to provide adequate supervision, and no medical staff attended to our child immediately. The doctor examining our baby later that day failed to inform us about the incident or the potential consequences of the fall. When my mother-in-law asked about the baby's condition, a nurse reassured her that the child was fine, despite our concerns.

“We are deeply concerned about the long-term effects of this incident on our child's health and well-being. Given the hospital's lack of transparency and inadequate response, we believe they are liable for the harm caused to our child.

“We request that you review our case and advise on the best course of action. We are seeking compensation for the harm caused to our child and hold the hospital accountable for their negligence.”

The parent further listed their grievances: failure to provide a safe and functional incubator, to adequately supervise our babies, to inform us about the incident and potential consequences, and to provide timely and appropriate medical care.

“We would appreciate it if you could assess our case and guide us through the legal process,” the father stated.

In response to the allegations, Tygerberg Hospital emphasised its commitment to patient transparency and care after engaging with the family, stating that an internal review had been finalised, which determined no evidence of negligence. “Tygerberg Hospital confirms that it is aware of the concerns raised regarding an alleged incident in the labour ward on January 22.

“The matter was reviewed internally in line with established patient safety protocols. Based on the information available to the hospital, no evidence of negligence on the part of staff was identified.

"As this is a potential medico-legal matter involving a patient and her minor children, it would not be appropriate to discuss specific clinical details or internal processes in the media.

“The hospital has engaged directly with the family and remains committed to patient safety, transparency, and the provision of quality care.

"The Western Cape Government Health and Wellness will continue to follow the appropriate processes in this regard.”

Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel.

Cape Argus