Themba Hospital allegedly neglects patient

KABOKWENI – Nick Ferreira was shot and robbed in Marite on October 23 while selling ice to schools and spaza shops.

After he survived the incident in which several bullets missed him except one, according to a Facebook post by his daughter, Monique Ferreira, he was left unattended with a leaking catheter at Themba Hospital resulting in him having to lie in a bed soaked urine for two days.

“He was shot in his femur and my mom had to collect him from the crime scene. She took him to the nearest state hospital, Matikwana Hospital, as we cannot afford medical aid. He was transferred via ambulance to Themba where they were going to perform a surgery. When he told us about his condition, we decided to start a fundraiser for his medical bills so that he could moved to a different hospital.

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At some point they took his clothes which means he was naked with only with a sheet to cover himself,” she explained. “There was a serious lack of medical attention given to his wounds, leaving them to become septic. This may result in him possibly losing his leg. The staff were not friendly, extremely careless and portray an attitude of being unwilling to help or bring any sort of comfort or aid to the patient.”

On October 24 they were told that on Monday October 26 he would undergo surgery. According to Monique, unfortunately the doctor only saw him on Monday therefore surgery was scheduled for a later date. “What makes things worse is that we are not allowed to see him due to Covid-19,” she said.

After the family shared Nick’s experience and asked for people’s help, he was finally attended to on October 28. On Monday November 2 he was finally operated on.

“We are grateful for the support we have received and he is doing fine now. He might be discharged on Thursday,” said Monique.

Spokesperson for the provincial Department of Health, Dumisani Malamule said, “The patient was seen by a doctor in casualty on October 23 and admitted to the high care unit for surgical management at 01:10 on October 24.

“A doctor diagnosed the patient with a gunshot wound on the upper right leg and with a broken thighbone. The right leg had a skin traction and pulling weights to keep it in an anatomical position. He was seen by a doctor and transferred to the orthopaedic ward on October 25.

“Allegations that the patient had to sit in his own urine for two days due to a leaking urinary catheter are fictitious, he had a urinary catheter to monitor the intake and output of fluids. The allegations that nurses took the patient’s clothes leaving him naked are untrue, a patient with such injuries needs special attire that will not cause pain and disturb treatment.”

According to Malamule, the allegations regarding a serious lack of medical attention given to Nick’s wounds, becoming septic and possibly losing his leg are also baseless.

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