refused to treat emergency patient, shocking neglect

I visited Mediclinic Victoria with a 39.4°C fever, chills, body pain, and a painful breast lump. I was triaged code orange going red — a clear emergency. I’m a postpartum mother, and my GP had already tried to admit me for a suspected abscess and possible sepsis.

Despite this, the hospital refused to help. I was told to pay cash of either R1900 or over R3000 excluding blood test scans which I'd also need to pay cash upfront before even being treated. While still in triage your receptionist who came to check if i was going to the cash and when I simply asked so bloods etc I'll also have to pay cash. Response was

“You were made aware by Discovery before joining this plan.”

That response was cruel, dismissive, and completely unprofessional. No one with a red-coded triage result and a high fever should be turned away. The staff failed to escalate, refused to contact Discovery, and ignored a clear medical emergency.

Mediclinic Victoria failed its duty of care and put my life at risk. This experience was traumatic and unacceptable.