SHOCKING SERVICE FROM BEDFORD GARDENS HOSPITAL

Re: Patient Noah Luke Muller I would like to bring the following complaint to your attention as a matter of urgency. On the night of Thursday the 24th May 2018 I rushed my son to the Bedford Garden Hospital for urgent medical attention as he was running a very high temperature (40.6) and was no responsive and unable to move his neck/head. At the hospital we were seen in the emergency room by the doctor on call (due to us being upset I never took note of the doctors name). Dr Baxter was called as she was the pediatrician on call, her response was that she would not come out to see our son as his condition was most likely viral. The medical staff on duty administered a suppository (Empaped) and Panado, we stayed in the emergency room for roughly an hour. We were given Panamor suppositories and Zinnat and told to monitor his temperature and sent home. Overnight his condition did not improve, he continued to have very high temperatures, was in pain and screamed when we tried to touch his head or move him. We then proceeded to take Noah back to the hospital where he was attended to by Dr Gordon. Bloods were taken as well as a nasal swab, Dr Gordon then told us: “I will call the paed, but you know them, they want come out! And it is just a case of flu and you should call us tomorrow for the results.” We were then sent home with another antibiotic (Tami Flu). This was on the morning of Friday the 25th May, we were discharged at approximately 09:00. We call the hospital later during the day and were told the results were positive for influenza, we were not told the stand of influenza. We monitored Noah’s condition very closely but there was no improvement and in fact he seemed to be getting worse. The fevers was not controllable and we then decided to take Noah to the Clinton Hospital (a Netcare hospital) as we had not had satisfactory assistance at the Beford Gardens Hospital. At the Clinton the doctor on call took more bloods and Noah’s CP had doubled in less than 24 hours, a pediatrician was called and Noah was then sent for a brain scan. The results were given very quickly and he was diagnosed with encephalitis. The Clinton didn’t have a bed in isolation in the pediatric ward, they proceeded to call around and a bed was found at the Linmed in Benoni. We then had to pay for a private ambulance to take myself and Noah to the Linmed. By this time is was 01:30 in the morning. My husband, Noah and I were extremely traumatized and this entire situation could have been avoided had your doctors at the Bedord Gardens Life Health Care hospital done their jobs professionally in the first place. We are extremely disappointed and angry at the level of poor service we received at Bedord Garden and will never use this facility again, and will ensure that we tell all our friends and families of the shocking experience we had at the hospital. I believe that Dr Baxter’s was ********* in refusing to come out and see Noah as she is our pediatrician and has a history with Noah. Your urgent attention to this complaint will be appreciated, before we escalate this matter to the Medical Health Board and the Medical Ombudsman.