Cancer patient walks home at midnight from South Rand Hospital

REUVEN – When Brian Langman (72) from Reuven Senior Complex got ill, an ambulance was called. He was treated and taken to South Rand Hospital on Friday night August 8.

He was taken to casualty and waited for about three hours and then examined by the doctor. The doctor discharged him, however by this time the ambulance had left and Brian was told he could go home! According to Florence Rixon-Fuller from the complex, Brian explained that he had no transport but he was told by the doctor to go home.

“Feeling extremely ill, the old man proceeded to walk from South Rand Hospital at midnight. He walked all the way to the Reuven Senior Complex and arrived after 02:00 the following day, ice cold and feeling even worse than when he left home. He was shaking like a leaf. I helped him and gave him something warm to drink and he went home to his flat. Brian suffers from skin cancer,” explained Florence.

Sue Lubbe, Health and Human Rights Activist, said this is totally unacceptable. “How could the hospital neither give him a bed to sleep for a few hours or even offer to give him a blanket and letting him sleep on the benches or in armchair for his safety. What has happened to nurses and doctors caring for the patients? “While walking, Brian saw the SA Police van and asked if they would help, they told him they were waiting for someone and he should continue walking. The police were also appalling, just how they could not even try to protect this senior. He was very ill. How is it possible that they allowed him to continue in this crime infested area of the South?

“But this is not the only case. Another gentleman at the complex had the same experience. He was taken to the hospital, examined and then told to go back. The staff demanded that he went home, he walked barefoot and in the same situation arrived home in the early hours of the morning. How could the hospital allow this kind of treatment?

“I personally believe it is time for the government and their employees to use the state hospitals just to see what the treatment of our people is all about!” noted Sue Lubbe.

Prince Hamnca, Head of Communications responded on behalf of the hospital:

According to the hospital management, the patient Mr Langman was assessed by the doctors upon his arrival.

The doctor’s assessment report indicates that the patient was stable at that time; he was then given antibiotics and discharged. He was informed to come back to the hospital on Monday August 11 for further investigations.

During the consultation the doctor explained to the patient that he does not need admission. The doctor was not aware that the patient did not have transport to go home, and the patient himself did not indicate to the doctor that he had transport challenges. If he had explained this, he could have been accommodated overnight in the hospital’s waiting area.

The nurse who gave Mr Langman treatment prescribed by the doctor was also not aware that the patient had transport problems.

The Quality Assurance Officer visited the patient to explain what prevailed on the day. According to the Department’s policy, no patient should be turned away at any of the public health facilities in the province.