WORST HOSPITAL EXPERIENCE IN TIME OF NEED

<p>To whom it may concern,</p> <p>I write this in regards to a emergency visit on Sunday 28th August 2016 for my husband Sashin Singh. Firstly when we arrived we were told that there was 1 patient before us whose a baby and thereafter we will be seen. My husband had nose bleed and numbness on his left side of the face. We then waiting for 30minutes for the person at Triage to see us who gave us a YELLOW Sticker which states "will be attended to within 1 hour of arrival", We then waited an hour and was told the beds in the casualty area were full. Once we were called the TRIAGE man refused to let me go in with my husband. I allowed and respected his wishes until i saw that everyone else who brought in their family members were going in whilst i was alone. I then went to the triage man and asked him why is everyone else allowed but he isnt letting me in "HIS RESPONSE WAS THAT IT IS HIS RULE" i then lost my patience and went in to see my husband who had been waiting a further 40minutes before the doctor could see him. My husband told me that he had asked a nurse to call me and they still did not bother. Furthermore, when the Dr saw to him, he was absolutely uninterested. He asked a few questions and then seemed dumb founded about what to do. I asked if he agreed with admitting my husband and referring him to a specialist to do a CT scan as the doctor said he is unable to help him without referring him for a brain scan and emphasized that a specialist will need to see him for something like this thus recommended admitting him. I agreed and was happy as my husband is on a smart plan which covers 100% of every in hospital and therefore only needed to worry about a consult at casuallty bill. The doctor advised me that they were busy with all admission processes and in the interim will send someone to do bloods but it will be billed as IN-PATIENT Seeing as my husband is being adimitted. I empahsized to the doctor that i dont have funds to pay for these tests and asked that he DOUBLE CONFIRM that the lancet bloods bill as in patient and HE CONFIRMED THIS. The lady from Lancet also was advised that the tests need to be billed as in hospital. We waited for the results and several times went to the doctor and the nurses asking what is going on, all of which were rude and not interested. They did not even give my husband a glass of water after sitting their for 5 hours nor any treatment or medication NOTHING. We then get the reception guys come to us with a bill for R800 for casualty and 900 FOR A DEPOSIT FOR THE HOSPITAL FEE. This was absolutely shocking as they DID NOTHING for almost 6 hours and came with a bill. When i asked to speak to a manager they disregarded me, when i asked who is in charge they also seemed uninterested and spoke in their language which i am fairly knowlegdeable on by saying nasty things about me. We then spoke to a pleasant guy at the reception names Thulani who tried to explain the bill for the casualty, which reflected R440 Emergency consult and 360 For NEW PATIENT. I refused to pay the new patient bill as he has been to Wilgeheuwel emergency casualty before. I was happy to pay the R440 and Thulani agreed that they will remove the R360.00 off the bill as he was going to speak to the people who did the bill. I noticed some codes on that bill and asked Thulani what it was for and he did his research came back to me and advised me of a code which stands for "CEREBRAL IN****URE", this left me speechless as how on earth can they assume a STROKE on my husband without a scan or even examining him. They did not feel his cheeks, look at his eyes, test facial strength NOTHING! This is utterly disturbing. Eventually After 6 hours or so of waiting we go to the ward Section 5 where he is to be admitted. We noticed dinner was being served and my husband wa s starving at this point, i asked the Manager or leader of the nurses if he will arrange my husbands dinner and he blatantly SAID NO which was shocking, he said dinner is already served, i then said to him that he needs to go and arrange something and he again blamed kitchen staff saying they are closed and he will see. 30 minutes later which was 630pm i asked where is the food and again he said no food will be given. I then went to give my husband a bath and needed a towel, we saw no soap available and was told to use the red sanitizing gel that lies at each basin, when i asked a nurse for the towel i was ignored, she was writing in a file and completely ignoring me standing in front of her. I then said "excuse me are you going to help me" and she said OH she did not see me and that she does not like my attitude. I then went to Mulusi who was the same person i had issues with on the food and asked him who is in charge there, he said i must go to the two ladies behind a glass door arounnd the block. When i went their. they said that its mulusi who is in charge and i must speak to him afterwhich i told them that he referred me to them/ They then came and i managed to speak to Rianna Rooot who was absolutely pleasant and apologised profusely for the experience at Section 5 ward so thank you Rianna however i cannot believe that people actually get treated in a private hospital like a bunch of NOTHING and that the attitudes of people who are their to provide a WARM service to people who are sick and already miserable is so pathetic.</p> <p>The person at casualty who was to amend the invoice as we agreed that the bill was incorrect needed to have come and given me the bill but this did not happen.</p> <p> </p> <p>Please investigate this matter as every stage we went through was about bills and we were informed that the only bill we will have is the R440.00 casualty bill as everything else is inpatient and will be covered via the medical aid</p>