Negligence, Lack of Customer and Patient Interest

On the 25th of July 2018 at about 12:09 my husband came to your ER for medical assistance after his GP was awaiting on a booking by a specialist who was fully booked but advised that should he not feel any better he should go to the ER immediately and gave him a referral letter.

The letter that the GP gave him was noted to check for Viral Encephalitis/TIA/CVA and also noted his symptoms that he experienced.

He was seen and was told that they needed to an MRI but the medical aid could only confirm later for a pre authorisation, he said that once the doctor that attended to him found out about the medical aid he did not go back to see him.

My husband left as he was feeling still very drowsy and was not getting any medical assistance and came straight home.

The next day he was still feeling the same so I went to the state hospital where my mom worked to see the doctor there, I needed support as it was scary seeing my husband in that state not even being able to drive.

The doctor examined him and immediately told me he looks serious and it seems to be ENCEPHALITIS and he needs an urgent MRI and medical assistance, we are in the southern suburbs currently and went to Tokai Melomed where they also immediately said he need that MRI and medical attention.

He was sent immediately to ICU after the results from the MRI was received and it showed a blood vessel abnormality in the brain, during this period they still were not 100% sure as to what was causing it but he was getting worse and they started treatment for a few things as well as did a lumber punch to get more accurate results.

The next morning he was worse and could not even walk but they also received the Lumber punch results and it confirmed Encephalitis caused by the Herpes Simplex Harmonious Virus.

Melomed Tokai kept him and treated him even though pre authorisation was pending and it fell into a weekend so it took five days but they went above and beyond the extra mile for him and also was very confident that the nature of his illness had to be covered by the medical aid.

The treating Neurologist has advised that should he have had treatment sooner his health would not have deteriorated to that extent because of your negligence he was only responsive by clutching peoples hands, unable to speak and could do nothing for himself with a catheter later inserted due to his incapacitated state.

So now my questions would be to your very well known private facility:

1) Was my husband's case not worth looking at?

2) Was his life not worth fighting for?

3) Did the attending doctor just not have any interest after the medical aid was being difficult even though he had a referral letter?

4) Was it of no concern that a patient referred by a GP that had a suspicion about a serious disease and that your facility acknowledged that he needed an MRI has left the facility?

5) Is Netcare not aware of how all schemes work that has access to their facilities, I am asking based on how much Melomed knew and was of great assistance during this traumatic experience?

6) Netcare made sure they knew he had to pay cash for his visit as the scheme will not pay for two GP visits in the same day, is money the more important aspect of how you run your medical facility?

7) So it makes me wonder even further as to how many other people has gone through the same or similar experience by being turned away for any given reason?

8) Also, should my husband not at some point due to the suspected severity of his health have been referred to a state facility by Netcare in order to receive immediate medical assistance?