Girl in constant pain after hospital stay

Tsakane – A seven-year-old girl has been suffering from constant pain in her right arm since she was discharged from Pholosong Hospital.

Thandi Mthimunye’s daughter, Sbahle, was admitted on March 1 after vomiting and experiencing shortness of breath.

“The child was really sick when we got there and they attended to her.

“Everything went well and she was discharged five days later.”

Thandi says she noticed her daughter was not using her right arm much.

She thought her daughter’s pain was a result of having a drip in her arm for a number of days and that it would heal.

“She is right-handed, so it was strange that she avoided using it,” she adds.

A few days later the child returned to school.

Thandi says Sbahle’s teacher sent a note to inform her that the child’s arm was not functioning as it should.

Sbahle then confirmed that her right arm was still hurting.

“Even when I write it is painful, so I keep taking breaks.

“And sometimes I don’t finish my work in class,” says Sbahle.

Thandi says she went back to the hospital to inform them of the child’s discomfort.

She says the doctor who attended to her drew blood from the child’s neck for some tests.

The doctor said she should come back the following week for the results.

“A week later, the child was still in pain.

“We went back for the results but we did not get them,” explains Thandi.

Instead, more blood was drawn, by another doctor, she alleges.

“I have since sought a medical opinion outside the hospital.

“I was told that a nerve in my child’s arm was hit and that she needs surgery to fix it.

“Where am I going to get money for that?”

Thandi says she lodged a complaint with the hospital’s quality control department.

Pholosong Hospital failed to respond to our media enquiry by the time we went to print.