Emergency staff ignorance and my insult

1. It was 09/10/2023 when I had visited Mediclinic Morningside Hospital Emergency with my nephew who got injured in head. Dr said stiches need and he done stiches. Concerning head injury, we asked Dr if we need to go for X-Ray. Dr said not needed from my side as injury is not that bad but if you want you can go for X-Rays. We asked we want to go for X-Ray and Dr sent us to X-Ray department with documents.

In X-Ray department, X-Ray was done, and they didn't ask me to PAY anything there. After X-Ray I was waiting there for X-Ray report. After waiting some time, I asked one of staff member about report, they advised I must go to Dr as reports will be send to Dr directly and there is nothing to do here.

So we went to Dr, Dr said X-Ray is fine, we must visit again just to re-check stiches condition and then he will advise when to remove stiches. Then we came to reception and paid R2300+ as per invoice given by hospital staff at reception.

2. After 3-4 days, my sister-in-law visited hospital emergency again as advised by Dr. Dr checked stiches and said come after 1 week to open/remove stiches. Then my sister-in-law approached reception and reception gave appointment for 20.10.2023 to re-visit to open stiches. They didn't give any invoice and not asked to pay anything. As a patient how will know how all this works. You come to reception and pays whatever invoice is given to you and asked by reception. My sister-in-law, how she would know if she had to pay anything for that day. It was also very quick check by Dr like 1 minute, reception also didn't ask her to pay anything and also not any invoice is given to her.

3. My sister-in-law again visited hospital on 20.10.2023. Dr open/remove stiches and done all required things. My sister-in-law came to reception, and she was provided with invoice by reception, and she paid what was mentioned in invoice.

NOW it was 11th day from very 1st day we had visited hospital.

PROBLEM starts here.

One day (Don't remember date but like mid of October or end of October 2023) I got message from hospital that R285 is Not Paid By US.

Woow, what a professional hospital and staff. I ignored it thinking that I had paid all invoices what they gave to us.

After some days, I got message again and then again. At last, they send me threatening message for legal action for R285 which I was not aware of, and which was mistake of hospital and staff.

Finally, my sister-in-law visited hospital on 18.11.2023 and asked about all this non-sense. Reception said this amount was pending for point number 2 above. It was hospital mistake that they had not asked us to pay that time and also didn't gave us any invoice that time and after that they were making us CULPRIT. But it was OK, she paid R285 on 18.11.2023.

After some days I again got message from hospital that R800 something is not paid for X-Ray which was done on same day when Dr did stiches. I said WHATT..............

This is unbelievable. Is this hospital or something else.

Again, and again receiving same messages from hospital and then they start sending me messages for legal action. Finally, today (09.01.2024) I got call from someone, I don't know from hospital or their advocate telling and asking me to pay that pending amount. I asked that guy whose mistake is that. Is this how this kind of big hospitals work. Because of hospital *********** staff member(s) who didn't gave me invoice on time when I was there same day, not even they asked me for any kind of payment, I was getting those message that I didn't pay. It is INSULTING me even I had paid all invoices which I am aware of and which hospital staff made me aware. And then they are insulting me more by sending me legal action messages. That guy apologized me (on phone) but I said I don't want his apologize, I just want that staff member should apologize me who created this all mess and because of whom I get insulted every time when I receive these non-payment messages. I will come and will pay with respect.

Tell me guys whose fault is this. Can you tolerate this kind of attitude of hospital staff. Is this how big hospitals work. They could call me same day or after some days saying sorry Sir during your visit to hospital, we forgot to give you invoice for that day. Please come, get and pay your invoice. That would be appreciable. But they are insulting by saying I didn't pay.

I will pay full amount with due respect whatever is due on me but I need strong action for the staff member(s) involved in this so no-one can do this again with anyone in future.