Anonymous writes:
For almost two decades, I worked within the health care system in South Africa.
I was born and raised in Witbank, moved around to different hospitals in different cities both public and private care.
Then, 14 years ago my family and I left, it was time.
Never have I been more grateful than in this moment, whilst sharing this with you.
Allow me to explain.
Recently my sister-in-law’s mother was admitted to Witbank Hospital.
Her kidneys were failing and she needed care.
Due to Covid, nobody could visit her but they did call and get daily updates.
As per protocol, she was tested for Covid in the hospital.
This test was negative.
She was very confused and ill.
Dialysis was done once and it was decided to discharge here, even though she was incredibly weak and clearly unwell.
Her daughters decided to find a frail care facility closer to them, as they live in Johannesburg.
They collected her and brought her home with them.
Having found a place for her to live, with good doctors and around the clock care, they quickly did the required Covid test, the day before her move to her new home.
However, the Covid test came up POSITIVE!!!
What was more, she had started running a fever and coughing.
She was dazed and very confused.
The doctor that was consulted immediately arranged for admission in a hospital in Krugersdorp.
My sister in law called me, sharing her story.
I told her to immediately contact Witbank Hospital and the ward in question to ensure that immediate action was taken.
I have a sister who works in Witbank Hospital as a registered nurse who I called and asked to pass on the message urgently to the ward.
Having carefully monitored the Covid protocols here in our new home, I knew urgent intervention was needed.
My sister in law rang immediately conveying the news to Witbank Hospital.
She phoned back, a bit dazed.
She said they didn’t seem to care and took no information.
Just told her okay and hung up the phone.
Perhaps I was missing something? – I thought.
Perhaps it was just a calm bedside manner and they were all rallying to find the source of the Covid outbreak in their ward.
That was my sincere hope.
Yet, when speaking with my sister, she said that there had been no visible action taken within the ward.
There had been no notifications within the hospital, to her knowledge.
Nobody had even mentioned the incident!
This is in stark contrast to a case here.
A patient in the local hospital here tested positive in the ward.
The entire ward was shut down.
Every single patient, cleaner, nurse, doctor, and all outside staff coming in to visit patients, were tested.
For one patient.
A patient who had accidentally slipped through the cracks on admission ‒ he was patient zero, so no further cases were found.
Yet the Covid infection for my sister in law’s mother originated in Witbank Hospital.
How can I be so certain?
She had been at home with no contact with anyone but her family.
All of which tested negative.
She had no Covid symptoms of Covid and her initial test was negative on admission.
Yet she left the hospital a week later and started becoming ill that evening.
We were informed this morning that she has died. Cause ‒ Covid-19.
Whoever passed on this disease to a sick woman may still be in that very same ward or perhaps someone working in the ward, moving freely about, a silent killer breaking up homes, causing pain and heartache.
The response between two different hospitals is staggering ‒ chalk and cheese.
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