Daughter slams hospital for ‘bad treatment’ of late mother

She said her mother, Elizabeth, was admitted to the hospital in late January and was moved three times in one day.

“During her stay she complained about the nurses that do not want to help her to the bathroom and I asked them to assist her as she was too weak to walk alone,” said Anja.

“She also complained because of a lack of food. We, therefore, decided to take food to her every visiting hour.”

Her mother was discharged from the hospital and died at home on February 3.

Anja questioned the nurses’ conduct and the Advertiser approached the Gauteng Department of Health for answers.

Spokesperson in the office of the Gauteng MEC for Health, Steve Mabona, said the patient was admitted to the hospital’s medical ward 21 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Mabona said it is true that the patient moved three times in one day as it is standard procedure that all patients are seen and assessed in the Accident and Emergency Department.

“Once a provisional diagnosis is made and identified and the need for admission is established, the patient is then transferred to the admission ward,” said Mabona.

Mabona said that once the patient was stabilised, she was transferred to the ward but the patient’s condition did not allow her to go to the bathroom, hence she was nursed in the bed.

Anja disputes this.

“She was not nursed in bed, family members had to carry her to the bathroom as the adult nappy was soaked in urine.

“This was only done during visiting hours, between 3pm and 4pm. She informed us that they left her to lie in her urine from the previous night and when she called a nurse they would tell her to shut up as other patients were sleeping.

“When she attempted to go to the toilet on her own there was no assistance from any of the nurses.

“While she was on her way back (leaning on walls and beds as she could not walk properly) she fell in front of three nurses and they just looked at her and carried on talking.

“When my younger sister attempted to get to her they held her back, saying it was not visiting hours – they then locked the doors.

“Another patient had to assist her to her bed while the nurses just watched,” said Anja.

On the issue of meals, Mabona said all in-patients are served three meals per day (breakfast, lunch and supper), as well as early morning and night tea with snacks.

“Special diets are offered to patients as per dietitians’ recommendations, according to the patients’ medical condition,” said Mabona.

However, Anja insists the hospital did not “serve any meals”.

She said they gave breakfast and as soon as it was placed in front her mother and the old lady next to her by the kitchen staff, the nurses would grab it and say “are you done, hope it was good”.

“My mother told my younger sister this and when confronted the nurses said my mother was not honest – that medication was making her say those things”.

Anja added that no snacks or tea were given, as they claim.

Mabona told the Advertiser that due to doctor/patient confidentiality, the hospital cannot divulge further information on this matter.

He said the hospital is in a process of scheduling an appointment with the patient’s family where details of the patient’s medical records as well as her stay in hospital will be discussed in detail.

Anja said that so far, there has been no attempt from any nurses or doctors to contact the family.

“The family have been attempting to speak to the doctor to find out why she was misdiagnosed and not treated for the condition she was in, as the autopsy showed major infections and abscesses in her lungs,” she added.

“The doctor treated her for bronchitis and asthma. No treatment was done for what caused my mother to pass away.”

The department said patients who experience difficulties in any health institution should report their concerns to the quality assurance officers based at all their institutions.

“If they are not satisfied they should report to the facility managers. Their concerns will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated.

“Patients are also encouraged to lodge any disgruntlement or otherwise through our 24 hour call centre, which is 0860 011,” advised Mabona.

Anja said this procedure was followed, but it seems that it fell on deaf ears.