MKHUHLU – Frustrated patients at Matikwane hospital have said they fear for their lives because they are not receiving proper treatment according to their medical needs.
The disgruntled patients indicated that they wait for hours even days before they are attended by a doctor.
Mr Ben Sambo told Mpumalanga News that last week he was rushed to the hospital after he was stabbed when a brawl ensued between him and his drinking mates. With blood flowing from his head,he said that a nurse just gave him one look and stated that he was in a bad state and needed to urgently see a doctor.
“I was scared for my life but no one was helping me even though I was bleeding heavily. My sister who had accompanied me wrapped a towel around my head to try and minimize the bleeding,” he added.
Echoing Mathebula’s frustration,another patient who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity said that she has been admitted at the institution three weeks ago but has only been seen by a doctor once.
“I think sometimes people die unnecessarily here because they could not receive the appropriate attention because no doctor was available to assist them,”the patient said.
When Mpumalanga News visited the hospital,a number of patients waiting to be seen at the out patient ward said that they were exhausted since they had waited for hours but had not been attended by either a nurse or a doctor.
Those who had been in different wards confirmed that they had not seen a mere general practitioner for days.
We approached the department of health for answers on the issues and this is what the spokesperson said,
“The allegation is not correct at all, our patients are seen within reasonable time.Where there is need the hospital use agency doctors.”
