When Valencia Ephraim went into labour on 26 August it should have been a joyous occasion.
Her mother Pearl Stevenson rushed her to the Discoverers Health Clinic in Clarendon Street. At the clinic no one offered her a wheelchair, a normal practice when a woman in labour arrives at a hospital.
First she had to fill out her file. After that she was examined and put in a general ward as opposed to the maternity ward. Because Ephraim also had a bad experience with the birth of her first child, Stevenson asked if she could stay with her daughter. Her request was granted.
When Ephraim started experiencing excruciating labour pains she screamed and started hyperventilating. Stevenson panicked and checked if she could see the baby’s head appearing. That very moment a nurse came in and yelled at her, asking her if she was trying to do the nurse’s job.
The nurse told Ephraim to get up so that they could walk to the theatre.
“The next moment I heard a thudding noise and when I looked I was horrified to see that the baby had fallen onto the floor,” says Stevenson.
“We both were hysterical.”
After everything was brought under control and Stevenson could see her new grandchild, staff allegedly told her that she was a ‘drama queen’.
A nurse also wanted to know why Ephraim was walking in her condition. When Stevenson told her that another nurse had ordered her to walk, the nurse admitted to it.
Stevenson decided not to leave it at that and took her daughter and the baby to Raheena Moosa Hospital to have tests done on the baby.
They currently are awaiting the results of the blood tests. The baby also has a substantial bump on its head.
The director of the clinic, Maria Masibuka, could not be reached for comment.
these state hospitals and their staff are terrible. they dont care about anyone or anything. i had my baby over a year ago and also had a bad experience with state hospitsls “rahima moosa” it is disgusting to see how people get treated and how untidy they are.
I’m so sorry to hear about this. For some reason I’m not surprised at all. Just on Saturday 23 August I took My daughter to the same hospital. Got no help coz the person who us to be @ filling room was on lunch. I then went in to the doctors room & explained there is no 1 to get her file as my daughter has been burning up with temp 38.8.Doctor told me to wait.I then asked the sister on duty for her name & doctors name that’s on duty.I was just ignored.my landlords son then decidedto record this after asking for help.the security then came up to casually & asked me wat the problem was.I explained & told them I would take this further. Wen I read this I wish I did take it up.as my daughter is still not well took her to .another hospital. & today she has been again as the fever spikes. The worst hospital ever.
Omw i was by discovery for checks in 2012 with my little girl no problems but by the mother and child hospital they lift me on the heart mac for long on my back and 5 sept 2012 my little girl was born but the dr tall me till wait a nother week before she was born but my dr tall me she will do me the 5 sept
Absolutely disgusting! Some nurses and doctors have got NO common sense or ethics at all. Horrible behaviour and I truly hope that they get what they deserve!!
My domestic worker also went there 2 weeks ago. My son and I took her after her water broke at home. My son wanted to get a wheel chair for her and was shouted at. They were busy playing on their phones while we (the only people there) stood and waited. The one nurse/sister was so rude. It’s disgusting that they feel they entitled to treat people disrespectfully. No pride at all just arrogance. They need a serious wake up Call!!
Absolutely disgusting! They think you owe them the world in the meantime they owe themselves. My friend went to a provincial hospital to give birth to her baby, only to go back a few days afterwards because they never took the afterbirth out. And their salaries comes from our taxes and this is the service you get.
Totaal onaanvaarbaar. As ek so daarna kyk dan se dit net vir my die matrone van die hospitaal of kliniek het totaal en al beheer verloor. Streng gesproke moet sy verantwoordelik gehou word.
It is so sad to see what is happening. The matron of the hospital clearly does not have any control over her staff.