Hospital horrors deepen

Tyronne Steel says his brother, James Clifton, was allegedly admitted to the hospital six years ago when he was throwing up blood.

“The staff left him to lie in his own blood on the main entrance floor,” he says.

After he was admitted, James says that no procedures were done to determine the cause.

“James managed to contact my mother and inform her he would be going in for a scope on the Sunday.

“On Sunday, my mother called and was told that they couldn’t find anything wrong, and that he would be scheduled for a blood transfusion, as he had lost a lot of blood.”

Tyronne says that when he called the hospital later on the Sunday, he was told that his brother had died.

“When I questioned why nobody had informed us, I was told that they didn’t have any family members’ numbers.

“When we got to the hospital, my sister looked at his bed, and saw that it was covered in blood,” says Tyronne.

He adds that they were told that James had started to throw up blood again, and his organs had shut down.

Another complaint came from Daniel Dombela, whose nine-day-old granddaughter allegedly died at the hospital of Jaundice.

According to him, Luthanndo Welani was born at the hospital on May 21, and mother and baby were later discharged.

“We were told that Luthando was healthy and that we should bring her back the next week for a check-up,” says Daniel.

He adds that they took her back the following week, and were told that they would have to keep the baby overnight.

“When my wife and son went back the next day to see Luthando, they were told the baby was not there and there was no record of the baby being in the hospital.

“After fighting with the staff, it was determined that Luthando had died, and that she was at the Germiston Mortuary,” he says.

The cause of death is still unknown, and is under investigation at the Boksburg SAPS.

Duncan Westray (67) was allegedly taken to the hospital on May 21 after he fell and was unable to walk.

Christine Westary says that he was taken to the emergency room, and X-rays were done, whereafter he was admitted into the orthopaedic ward and booked for a bone scan at the Johannesburg General Hospital.

“He was discharged the next day and told go back to the hospital on June 11, as he would be taken to the Johannesburg Hospital via ambulance the next day,” Christine adds.

She says that the ambulance never arrived, and Duncan was sent home and told to go back on September 16, and he would be taken to the Johannesburg Hospital the next day.

“Duncan has not been able to walk since he was discharged and on June 14, he tried to walk and fell again, as his hip and leg couldn’t hold his weight.”

Karen Kruger was allegedly admitted into the hospital in January for a gallbladder infection.

“It took them a week to discover that there were gallstones, and I was told I needed to have an operation soon, as the stones were at the top of my gallbladder,” she says.

Karen adds that she was booked for an operation only on March 15, as the theatres were overbooked.

“I got to the hospital on March 14 at 6am, and by the time I got to the ward, it was afternoon, and I was told I couldn’t have my operation the next day, as the theatres had already been booked.

“I was then told I would have my operation the next morning.”

She adds that the next she still didn’t have her operation, and after fighting with the staff, she was prepared for her operation to take place on March 15.

“After lying in front of the theatre doors until afternoon, a doctor told me my operation would be postponed again, as they were receiving patients who were involved in an accident, and that after the doctor dealt with the patients, he would be going on leave and would only be back on April 15.”

To date, Karen says she still has not received the operation.

Becky Welgemoed says, in April her husband Pieter was taken to the hospital for stomach pains, and operated on the same evening.

“The operation took four and a half hours, and when he came out, the wound had not been closed and he could not breathe and had to be put on a ventilator,” she says.

She says he spent 10 days in the ICU with a fever of 41.9 degrees Celsius.

“On April 12, my husband died,” Becky says.

Jackie Brand allegedly went to the hospital in March with abdominal pain, and was given an injection and told to go back the next day, as she would need a scope.

“I went back the next day and was told I would have to wait a month before I could see the doctor,” she says.

She adds that after a month she finally saw the doctor who informed her she would have to wait another month before she could have the procedure.

“I was given medication for the pain, and waited another month to have the scope.”

After having the scope, Jackie was informed that there was nothing wrong.

“I loaned money and went to see a private specialist, who informed me that I had a severe bacterial infection in my stomach, which had spread all the way to my throat.”

These are just a few of the many complaints received regarding the Tambo Memorial Hospital.

The Advertiser also received a video showing the state of the toilet facilities at the hospital.

The video can be viewed by clicking here.

Jack Bloom, DA spokesperson for health, says that it is his view is that complaints like this are best dealt with by a health ombudsman, who will function like a public protector for health.

“In terms of new legislation, the Health Department is to set up an office of Health Standards Compliance, which will have health inspectors and an ombudsman.

“This will help considerably if it is implemented properly,” he says.

Tambo Memorial Hospital CEO Dr Naidoo was repeatedly contacted by the Advertiser, however, no comment was forthcoming by the time of going to print.