Appalling Service - Dr. Ratau

If I could rate the experience I received from one of your physicians minus 100, then I would definitely do so!

Dr. Ratau is the most unprofessional doctor by far. My gynae told me that he will check availability with physicians at Tshepo Themba Private Hospital as he couldn't detect what might causing the symptoms I'm experiencing.i was then informed that one of the physicians is unavailable, I asked my gynae's office to book any physician who is available ASAP. My contacts were then shared with Dr. Ratau's office and an appointment was made for 11/01/2025.

After sitting on the queue for almost 5hrs, the doctor called me and her receptionist into her room and informed me that she doesn't understand what is required from her based on the referral letter from my gynae. I then explained what's the issue and what I needed checked, flagging that my gynae ran a series of blood tests which can be made available to her. She then started complaining that the letter is addressed to another physician and she's not privy to their conversation. She refused for the receptionist to call my gynae and said that I should go to the physician that was my gynae's 1st choice. I've never begged a service provider to help me the way I did with this lady. She point blank told me that she won't assist me - I must go to the doctor that the letter is addressed to. I even pleaded with her to treat me as a brand new patient and disregard the referral letter and start the process from scratch but she point blank refused! This really felt like I was put in the middle of a feud that has nothing to do with me! Her manner of approach indicated that she has an issue with either the other doctors involved or she thought she was a "second option" because the other physician is not available. I've never felt so low and humiliated in my life! Five hours waiting for a consultation and I was turned away because the doctor was not happy that the initial referral letter was not addressed to her - even when I begged to start the process from scratch and redo the tests done towards the end of 2024

Is this the kind of treatment you condone in your hospital? What does your policies say about such situations? How does a doctor turn a patient away even when she's begged to treat them as their 1st time patients? She was unsympathetic and unashamedly put me in the middle of whatever is happening between her and the other doctor(s).

This woman humiliated me so much that I broke down and cried at the hospital corridors! I demand the hospital to look into this and ensure rhat she doesn't treat patients so lowly in future! Honestly, we don't enjoy being sick but when someone turns you away based on the fact that the referral letter is not addressed to them then there is a serious issue with your hospital's client service!

I am appalled by the kind of treatment I have received at your hospital today!