Bad Service

I had an experience yesterday that has left me thinking what on earth is going on with some of out Public Hospitals or the Health Department. I took my 80 year old mother to the George Mukhari hospital yesterday to have her legs examined as they were swollen. We arrived at 11h00 and only saw the Doctor at 14h55 who ten put her on a drip and took some blood tests and advised that she will only get the results after 5 - 6 hours.

I left and returned after the 6 hours and the results were not back and was told I need to go to some room to wait until they called me. It was around 9h00 that time .The long and short of the story is my Mum was taken for a scan for which I had to wait for about 2to 3 hours later for the results. When I went back I was told I had to wait for the Physician to do the final check and release my Mum. As I am writing this complints it is 5h20 am, I never had any sleep, had to go back 6 times to check for my Mother and when I asked why cant they admit or keep her for the night I was told I need to wait in some cold room with wooden benches until they let me know if my Mum can be releassed.

I have for the life of me never heard f something like that or is it the standard we have set for Public Hospitals as punishment for not paying for a Medical Aid. I asked to sit in my car whilst waiting for my Mum as I had made about 6 trips to the Hospital and the securuty guy came screaming at me at around 3h00 am to get out of the hospital yard and wait at the outside parking.

I have no words to describe the treatment meted at people at Public Hospitals and would lije to advise the hospital to visit Tembisa hospital and learn a thing or two. The ae not perfect but at least there is a system there. George Mukhari is so disorganised and people are so disrespected by staff and much as I understand the pressure that the staff that they find themselves inn, they also need to understand that people need to be treated with thedignity they deserve.

I believe the hospital could have told me what the various steps of the examinations would entail so that I can make an informed decision or at least kept my Mother overnight which they have actually done and let me go home and rest at least they were able to work shifts whereass I had to spend the whole night driving to and from the hospital the entire night.

Management must please get a system together, it can be done and give people a bit of dignity. Thembisa is doing it. I was surpringly impressed with Tembisa, also a Public Hospital in the Township.