Cash payment before any service at life healthcare knysna even with medical aid.

Im a government employee with a medical aid based in Knysna.i have in numerous times used the services of life healthcare at knysna with my family for a long time with no husstles at all.including being admitted at the hospital for short and long periods lasting up to 7 days and have never experienced any problems with unpaid accounts e.t.c. But my first disappointment my came in on the 18/09/2021 when my daughter had to be taken to hospital due to servere eye condition.this was on a Saturday and most doctors rooms were closed and the only option i had was to take her to hospital.upon our arrival at the hospital we were screened as per covid regulations and afterwards sent inside where we were welcomed by a hospital manager at reception. The manager told us we needed to have a fee of about R1000.00 before we can receive any help even though we had medical aid.He also told us that this is a standard practice in their hospital since covid19.I was so furious as this was new to me and had no money on me and my daughter was in pain.He also brought along a Dr that was on duty who explained the same and advvised me to go to provincial hospital as they can't do anything to assist me without the R1000.00 cash. I had no choice but to leave the hospital without being assisted,the Doctor refused to give me her details for some reasons.I ended up opting to take my daughter to the nearest chemist. Can life healthcare explain this new procedure,and also tell me if its a standard practice all over the country.They must also explain why we as stakeholders who are using their services were never informed about these changes?? Are they chhanging the system to allow only the rich to use their services and cutting off the middle and lower class with medical aid??