Woman is disappointed by the South Rand Hospital

JOHANNESBURG SOUTH – A disappointed Turffontein resident, Christina Maree (45), recently told the COURIER her sad story of how she fell down the stairs, broke her arm and received, what she calls, “no help” when she was rushed to the South Rand Hospital.

The Turffontein woman fell on Monday night, September 7, and suffered unbearable pain which, she said, made her cry like a child as she could not move her arm without screaming. But Christina said what really hurt her most is that when she was rushed to the South Rand Hospital the following morning, she was made to wait the entire day. According to her, when her son and niece started asking the nurses questions, they were met with rudeness.

“We arrived at the hospital at 9:00 and waited for over two hours for a file. At 11:00 I was in casualty, but still waited the entire day, looking at the nurses busy texting on their cell phones.

“A nice female doctor then spoke to me and sent me for x-rays. But from there, there was no one who came to explain to me what was really wrong with me. I was in pain; I never even saw the x-ray results to at least know what was happening. In fact, a nurse came and gave me an injection, some tablets and some lotion to rub on my arm.

“But when I was at home I could tell there was a broken bone, as I could not move my arm an inch without screaming like a baby.

”On Friday, September 11, I went to the Johannesburg General Hospital where I received much better help. I was, in fact, sent for x-rays and and a doctor explained to me that I had a broken bone,” Christina said.

Christina has since been receiving treatment during scheduled visits to the Johannesburg General Hospital.

She was happy to announce that, on Thursday, October 1, they removed the cast from her arm. She is due for physiotherapy on Tuesday, October 27.

According to Christina, she decided to share her story because she wants the South Rand Hospital to improve its service and for the nurses to stop being rude to patients.

The Southern COURIER sat down to discuss the incident with the hospital’s spokesperson, Phafudi Molapo, who sent his deepest and sincerest apologies to Christina and her family.

From now on patients who have complaints are advised to report to the designated quality assurance coordinator, Mpolokeng Rankhumise, who will ensure that dissatisfied patients have someone to talk to directly. Mpolokeng Rankhumise can be contacted on 011 681 2026 or mpolokengG.rankhumise@gauteng.gov.za or phafudi.molapo@gauteng.gov.za