Incredibly unprofessional service from Life Netcare Ambulance staff

Not sure if this is the correct spot to complain for Life Dalview Clinic - If NOT, please advise where to re-direct it, or if you can re-direct it, it will be appreciated!

Good day,

Be ready for a very long read, essay style... Because I am very upset and utterly disgusted about our current experience with Life Healthcare. Dalview clinic was always the hospital that I bragged about, telling everyone about the prompt, professional, patient comes first kind of healthcare. Nowadays it seems everything is just about money; you will die in the reception area if you don't cough up a few thousand rand before you are assisted!

This complaint relates to my mother (Tania Barnard) being taken to the Life Dalview clinic by the Ambulance yesterday afternoon for an emergency because she could not breathe (her legs and face turned purple due to the lack of oxygen, she started losing consciousness (she felt how she started losing life).

I am very upset with the way the ambulance staff treated the situation with lack of urgency of the matter. Her left foot was also purple and bruised (due to falling a day or 2 before during the week. Although it looks extremely bad, my sister (Zelda Barnard) who was with my mother at the time kept in insisting and trying her very best to explain to them, don't focus on the foot, focus on her losing life due to lack of oxygen....

Only about 30 min later, after completing the tests they deemed necessary (at my mother's residence), they took her to Life Dalview Clinic Hospital.

Now since the Ambulance staff drilled and insisted the problem is her foot (they also wrote this on the report) - Hospital staff then proceeded with obvious tests for a foot fracture (although my sister kept on insisting they admit her) BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE ISSUE.

Unfortunately, the medical savings are depleted, and my sister had to pay cash for the X-rays, pay cash for blood tests, pay cash for the Examination room consumables, drips, etc.

Hours later, another doctor is on duty... He quickly examines my mother and immediately explains with some dissatisfaction himself that all the tests and time wasted was for nothing, because the problem at hand, this whole time (as explained over and over by my sister) is the lack of oxygen and she has some sores in her mouth that is also contributing to the problem (or other problems)

Ok that said, the doctor said my mother needs to be admitted (which is what should have been done HOURS AGO) - But everything was delayed because of the incorrect report of the ambulance staff. In the meantime during all of those wasted hours, she could have died!!!

Finally, at around 10:30 PM hospital staff says she will be admitted and moved to Ward-C. Medical aid approval is still pending at this time because more reports are to be taken by die doctor on duty this morning of 17 October 2020

Since my mother is now being admitted – as requested and begged for because of the situation. Will my sister be refunded all those thousands that she paid IN-CASH, FOR NOTHING??

You must address this as this is unacceptable on so many levels. Unfortunately due to the nature of human being, stressed and worried, my sister did not get the names of the staff members of the hospital, but I am 100% sure you are able to find out whom was on duty for yesterday afternoon, 16 October 2020 and who picked up a women by the name of Tania Barnard in Geduld, Springs.

I will await comment, constant feedback, and an explanation for this unacceptable behaviour, as well as the monies lost. Money that could have been used for REAL medical emergency costs for my mother, not things UNRELATED to the life threating issue at hand – Lack of Oxygen!

Thank you!