Laclastre efforts

We all know medical health insurance in SA is a mess. It is sad above that, that a private casualties unit is unable to assist properly and in a professional manner. We have been to a Netcare casualties centre before but were assisted promptly, professionally and were not overcharged for services rendered. Most importantly, we left there with an understanding of the condition of the patient.

On Sunday 20/10/2016, I had to take my wife to casualties Netcare Kingsway. She was 7 weeks pregnant and there were signs of complications. When we got to casualties, I was told that my Medical Aid Savings is depleted (this I knew) and I had to pay R2500 before we can be admitted. This is unusual since other Netcare casualties never request upfront payment (I am aware that casualties is a private centre). Anyway, I paid and was told that R850 was to see the doctor and the remainder for the hospital from which they would cash any items that they may need to treat the patient and that the balance would be refunded to me. When I got to the room where my wife was to be treated and the doctor (seemed to be a fairly inexperienced General Practitioner) arrived, we were informed that they had done two urine pregnancy tests and both were negative. This seemed highly unlikely since we had done both a urine and a blood test to confirm the pregnancy two weeks back. I requested that a specialist such as a gynaecologist be contacted to perform a sonar, but was told that they do not do scans on Sundays. Eventually, the GP ran a blood test that confirmed the pregnancy, however the diagnosis was that it could either be a viable pregnancy still in progress or early signs of a miscarriage and we were told to be on our way. Now, I'd like to make it clear that I have no problem with the capabilities of the GP since she was only doing her job. What I do have a problem with is the laclastre efforts that was made to treat a patient that was seemingly in distress and confused as to her condition. I beg the question, why was she not admitted to the hospital and a specialist contacted to perform the necessary testing? This is the first thing that the gynaecologist did when we saw him the next day. This is also what we requested when we were at casualties. And why are the blood tests and items used in the casualties ward being charged over and above the ridiculous fees that I had to pay in the first place.

I did not get the sense that we paid for professional services rendered since we left even more confused and distraught than when we arrived.