Life Flora and Netcare Pinehaven under fire for lack of disability access

Netcare Pinehaven and Life Flora Hospital were recently placed into the spotlight as disabled patients have lodged complaints regarding the struggles they have to endure when accessing the hospitals’ parking and the buildings.

Netcare said that it aims to be a ‘fully inclusive organisation, which values and empowers people and are therefore mindful of the varying needs of individuals visiting their facilities nationwide’.

“We wholeheartedly support the need to raise awareness and ensure accessible environments for people with disabilities,” Eugene Ferreira, acting general manager of Netcare Pinehaven Hospital said.

Jul-Andra van Dyk, who describes herself as a ‘wheelchair warrior’ has been living with a type of muscular dystrophy called Charcot Marie Tooth and said that is a lot to deal with and that the adjustment is not always easy.

Van Dyk reported that hospitals often lack parking for her, as nurses and young healthy people use these facilities. She said that Pinehaven Netcare has a mat in front of the door, and their parking pay machines are too high for her.

“I always like to keep a positive attitude, but one does reach the point where you have to speak out and be a voice for those in the same situation,” she said.

Ferreira said that the function of these parking bays is to serve people with mobility disabilities and that security is tasked with monitoring the use of these facilities.

“Eleven wheelchair-accessible parking bays are designated for patients in front of the hospital, monitored by security guards. Public use may occur in emergencies, but hospital staff have their own dedicated parking at the back,” he said.

Regarding payment machines, coffee shop access, and the rubber matting at the front entrance, the hospital responded and said that patients can sign parking tickets at reception, but wheelchair users may struggle with high slots for coins and notes. Porters at the front entrance are tasked with assisting patients and should be more aware of parking machines.

“A visit to the coffee shop showed that tables and chairs had been moved, making wheelchair access difficult. The shop promptly moved the tables and chairs, and the manager requested correct furniture placement for ease of access,” Ferreira said and further explained that the rubber matting at the hospital’s entrance prevents slipping and dust trapping, but porters are available for assistance in difficult cases.

In response to Ferreira’s statement, Van Dyk said that she is not content with their reaction as the front entry carpet may cause a tumble for wheelchair users, and there is no porter or notice for parking.

“The restaurant should be made more accessible for wheelchair users. Moreover, there is no designated emergency parking area and no penalties for disabled parking misuse. A nurse’s dismissive look suggests they don’t pay attention to car security and will only listen if they pay R500 to remove a wheel clamp,” she responded.

While Life Flora Hospital acknowledges that there are policies in place to support people with mobility needs, Van Dyk said that the steepness to get from the hospital door to the parking is a challenge and explained accessing the lifts is impossible as ‘the incline of the ramp is so steep that they cannot wheel themselves up there,’ and that the passage from the main hospital to the X-ray department also has a steep incline which she describes as ‘unreal’.

She continued to say that shops have disabled parking, but everybody parks there. And this was from her visit to the hospital sometime in March.

In response to these claims, Life Flora’s hospital manager, Jacques De Klerk said that they ‘strive to ensure safe and easy access to their facilities,’ and further stated that the hospital has several designated parking bays which are allocated for people with mobility disabilities.

“The hospital offers designated parking spaces for mobility-disabled individuals, including four in front of reception, one at the emergency unit, two near West Rand Oncology, and two further down. The hospital entrance ramp may be challenging for mobility-disabled individuals due to the gradient. Security guards will contact porters for assistance,” De Klerk said.

He further explained that porters assist wheelchair users to the radiology department at Van Rensburg and Partners, available 7:00 to 19:00 Monday-Friday, 8:00 to 17:00 Saturdays, and 9:00 to 17:00 Sundays.

Ferreira said they aim to address patient concerns with compassion, dignity, respect, and appreciation and said that they strive to learn from concerns and provide the best possible care.

“If concerns are not addressed satisfactorily, patients can contact the nursing services manager directly.”