My son was admitted in hospital during June 2017 and I had to sign the documents for him to be admitted. Polmed did not pay the account and now I'm held responsible for the outstanding amount of more than R16 000.

I'm divorced from my son's father and according to the divorce settlement my ex-husband was responsible for all medical costs for my 2 sons. He was a Polmed Member. In June my son had to be hospitalised and my ex-husband's wife arranged for a authorisation code for him to be admitted as I cannot make any arrangements on his behalf as I'm not a Polmed member. When my son was admitted at Midstream Mediclinic I had to sign the documents at reception for his admission or else they wouldn't admit him. Polmed didn't pay the account and now Mediclinic keep me responsible to pay the account because I've signed the documents although I've indicated that his father is the responsible person. Mediclinic threaten to blacklist me if I don't pay and don't care about the divorce settlement that was signed by the high court. My ex-husband's wife said she spoke to Midstream Mediclinic and Polmed and everything was sorted out but yesterday I've again received an e-mail from mediclinic's debt collector telling me I must pay the outstanding amount to avoid being blacklisted. How do hospitals expect that if parents are divorced (and there is a high court divorce settlement that clearly states who is responsible for what) and the mother who has legal guardianship over the children has to take her child to a doctor/hospital and sign the admittance documents that she will be held responsible is the fathers' medical aid and/or himself does not pay the accounts. This is really poor services and as a mother you are helpless and it seams as if divorce settlements have no meaning and their is no protection for mothers in this regard.