Rob Ferreira fails yet another patient

MBOMBELA – The family of a very sick woman had to make arrangements to take their loved one to Barberton Hospital after she was unfairly treated and according to them, prematurely discharged from Rob Ferreira.
Ms Trinity Sifunda from Matsulu was admitted to the facility on Sunday night after complaining about a terrible headache and extreme dizziness.
Her sister, Ms Brenda Khulile told Mpumalanga News that her condition was so severe, she could not even walk when they arrived at the hospital and a catheter had to be inserted in her.
Sifunda was admitted to the casualty ward on that night.
To Khulile’s surprise, when she went to the hospital to check on her sister on Monday afternoon, she was lying on a bench, with the catheter still inserted.
“My sister was visibly helpless when I got there, and when I wanted to know why she was just lying on the bench, I was told that she was being discharged and had to make way for another patient as there was a shortage of beds,” Khulile said.
When Mpumalanga News was contacted on Monday afternoon, this reporter found the patient very weak and lying on the bench with no one attending to her. Sifunda was later discharged and sent home in her condition.
“After discharging her, the doctor asked me if we had transport to take her home saying he was worried she might collapse since she was too weak,” added Khulile.
“We feel let down by our health system and one can only hope that things will get better. We had no choice but to make means and transport my sister to Barberton where she was properly treated,” said Khulile.
The MEC for health, Mr Gillion Mashego said all patients who needed emergency services had a right to be given priority whereas those who were not very sick had to be advised to visit their nearest clinics.
“The public should note that there is nothing wrong not to assist a non-emergency patient at casualty. It is common practice in all the hospitals,” said Mashego.