One month, mom seeks answers

According to the Department of Health it is the responsibility of the family to contact the hospital to query about the well-being of their loved ones.
This comes after the family of Junior Nkhumeleni, an eight-year-old boy has not heard anything from the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital since he was admitted on Tuesday, 17 November.
His mother, Stephina Nkhumeleni says they were transferred from the Louis Trichardt Memorial Hospital for an operation after Junior broke his arm, but when they got to the Pietersburg Provincial Hospital she was told only Junior was allowed to stay at the hospital – that was the last day she saw her son.
“I did not mind him staying in hospital alone but I was under the impression that the operation would only take a day, we didn’t plan to stay overnight, but I managed to arrange with our family in Polokwane to bring him some necessities, but it has been a month now.”
Departmental Spokesperson, Neil Shikwambana says parents are allowed to visit their children during visiting hours under normal circumstances, but due to Covid-19 regulations, no visitors are allowed. “Children who are not breastfed and those who are not critically ill are admitted without a guardian.”
Shikwambana emphasised that the family, especially the next-of-kin, can contact the relevant ward or doctor to query about the patient, however no confidential information will be divulged telephonically. When necessary, the hospital will contact the family and the family is also allowed to make an appointment with the doctor.”
Stephina says she wishes this information was relayed to her when her son was admitted and not a month later.