Tonga hospital victim dissatisfied after resolution
According to the Department of Health, the matter was finalised with the nurse, who was found guilty.
KAMAQHEKEZA – A female nurse at Tonga Hospital who recently had an altercation with a patient in the maternity ward was given a warning. However, the patient is not pleased with the outcome.
The victim, Ncobile Mathebula, expressed disappointment emphasising that the matter was not resolved fairly. “I heard through the grapevine that she was given a warning, but no one informed me. The last time I spoke to the hospital’s management was after the video went viral.”
Mathebula said she was admitted twice in the same ward after the incident and sarcastic remarks were often passed by the nurses. “I have had complications with my pregnancy and I had to be admitted to hospital. To be honest, the nurses treat patients badly. We often heard them shouting at some patients, telling them that they do not take instructions because they are only good at taking videos and sending them to newspapers. I somehow did not feel safe there,” she said.
The department responded as follows; “The nurse was found guilty and has been given a written warning. The patient was interviewed and the department has formally apologised to the family and the patient. We would like to emphasise that the public must come forward with any dissatisfaction they may have with any of the health facilities and such matters will be investigated and decisions taken without fear or favour. It is the responsibility of the department to ensure that patients are treated well and that no form of abuse is directed towards them.”
Mathebula disclosed that she will take the legal route once she has enough funds for a lawyer, as she feels maternity ward 6 issues are always swept under the carpet.
“The nurse is the one at fault, not management. It really would have been better if she apologised personally. I was humiliated, and if it was not for the video, I would have been ignored. I will take legal action as soon as my finances are in order. At the moment, I cannot afford a lawyer, but I am definitely not letting this go. I am not the first and definitely not her last victim,” concluded Mathebula.
