Mr

My husband had an accident on 29 March 2023 and was admitted to Lenmed Heart Hospital on the 30th of March 2023. Surgeon Dr. Fortuin Orthopedic took him for his first theatre visit for a closed reduction process which was not successful due to pelvic fracture, he went on the 7th of April for Hip pinning used pins, *****s, or plates to help hold broken bones together so they can heal correctly. He was ready to be discharged that’s when infection built up on his wound. He was then taken to the theatre to clean the wound on the 14th of April, he did not wake up and was rushed to the ICU. He stayed in the ICU for different treatments and as he recovered, it was established that he had epilepsy.

On 17 May 2023, we were summoned by Dr Fortuin to his office accompanied by my husband's brother, and a family friend. The doctor informed us that my husband fell on 16 May 2023 from the chair and fractured his hip, x-rays showed it was so bad that he would have to go for a hip replacement later. Please note he made it clear that had he not fallen he would not have needed a hip replacement, follow up with him on that. My question was how does a patient fall in the ICU under the supervision of a nurse? He said he could not tell us what had happened but he only received a message that he fell from the chair due to epilepsy.

- why wasn’t MR Lephoi fastened on the chair or under supervision? - Why no feedback on the incident to date after I enquired about the incident - Why no insurance claim for MR Lephoi’s fall and what damage did the hospital do because he fell they must cover the cost for the stay of fall. - That makes me question, whether there is even an incident reported (the OT report supports the fall, and the x-ray before the fall and after the fall supports it too.

I never had time to follow up on the matter it has been a very critical journey for me and my family with the treatment of my husband and all unexpected things. Mr. Lephoi was transferred to Kimmed Private Hospital on 23/06/2023 from Lenmed and had to go back to Lenmed at a later stage.

Mr. PT Lephoi refused to go back to Lenmed due to the fall, he was more depressed about the return to Lenmed, that’s when I approached Dr G. Conradie Gariep Hospital, and that is how he ended up at Gariep. The damaged hip (due to ICU fall was removed successfully) and he awaits replacement at a later stage while they treat the infection and fungus that appeared lately.

Please inform me of the procedure. Because a part of his body is removed now? What insurance is there in place for negligence in ICU or hospital for a patient who is unstable?

He had to be discharged due to medical aid running out of funds and is currently at home getting antibiotics for the fungus, he is out of a hip and depressed, and has no funds in medical aid.

A toilet seat support was delivered by Geldenhuys on the 11 of April and someone signed for it, My husband was not able to sign for it cos consent was given to me by doctors, If I did not sign for it who did? That is not my signature, you are welcome to go and look at my signature on all documents. see the signature of the person who signed and OT report. Can the hospital please follow up on where the seat is, I tried calling and finding out but had no success. Contact the receptionist at Gerneshuys – *** to check who delivered. We need the toilet support SAP.

I would appreciate feedback on the incident in the ICU the incident on toilet support, and the long-run change of permanent lifestyle