Pensioner feels let down by Bertha Gxowa Hospital
Diana Kent feels let down by the doctors at Bertha Gxowa Hospital after she claims they misdiagnosed her.
A month ago Diana Kent hurt her leg getting into bed, thinking nothing of it she went to sleep, but at 7am the next morning she found herself in such pain she had to call for an ambulance.
“The ambulance, with two very nice paramedics, only arrived at 11am and took me to the Bertha Gxowa Hospital,” she explained.
Kent explained that she noted three doctors were on duty in the emergency and causality ward.
“When I arrived I had X-rays taken and then was left to wait until 3pm when a nurse on duty, Palesa Molefe, told me that all of the doctors were attending to three babies that could not breathe.
“I asked her if I could please go home as I was in pain and had had nothing to eat and was extremely tired.
“At 72 years old enough was enough,” she said.
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Kent went on to say that Molefe took her file to one of the busy doctors and asked her to take a look.
“At about 3.55pm the doctor came to see me and said there was no break in the leg, just a bad muscle spasm, and that was why I could not stand or walk.
“I was given a pain injection and sent home after hours of waiting,” Kent said.
Kent, still in pain days later, went to a private doctor where she was sent for X-rays and a sonar.
“I do not have a muscle spasm in my leg as they diagnosed but something called Bakers Cyst.
“If the doctor actually examined my leg and had not just given me a diagnosis while I sat in a wheelchair she may have given the right diagnosis.
“It is sad that some of the doctors at the Bertha Gxowa Hospital have such an attitude and are not really that dedicated to helping people.
“Still after four weeks I cannot walk,” Kent said.
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The GCN contacted the hospital for comment.
“I can confirm that Kent was seen by our emergency department on the June 8,” said acting hospital CEO Dr Jatin Ganda.
“The records show that she received an initial assessment (called triage) within five minutes of arriving, and was assessed as not urgent.
“Thus, more urgent patients with life-threatening or serious conditions took precedence over her illness.
“She was seen within an hour by a female doctor and was sent for X-rays, which confirmed that she had an age-related condition which explained her pain.
“There is no evidence of a cyst formation on the X-rays done at the time she was in the hospital.
“She was reviewed by a second doctor with the X-rays available and it was decided to treat her with analgesia, there was no indication for further investigation or treatment.”
Ganda further stated he was happy to arrange for Kent to be seen and to explain the findings on the X-ray, and for further assessment to be done if necessary.
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