Netcare N1City the place one goes to be made to feel inferior!

My mom has medical insurance, where it allows us to take her to any Netcare Hospital. We ended up taking her to the emergency room at Netcare N1 City, WORSE MISTAKE EVER!!

My mom has a history of strokes, hence we have medical insurance that covers strokes and heart attacks only.

Upon arrival at N1 City Netcare, we were asked for our details, outside in the cold(due to covid).At this point my mom was delirious and in a state. One look at us ,it was clear that perceptions were already formed by some of the staff. We were then asked for our medical details and address. When they heard that my mom lives in Manenberg and she has medical insurance rather than medical aid, the reception lady immediately had a negative attitude toward us, discussing how our medical insurance will not cover etc. to her colleagues as if we weren't right there listening to her. I asked them for a blanket to cover my mom whilst out in the cold, and that also was an issue for them.

After the receptionist made some calls and it was established according to her, very begrudgingly that the medical insurance may pay, my mom was allowed to enter the hospital.

After some time the doctor on call then told me that my mother is suffering from some severe delirium and her breathing is fast which leads her to be believe it could be covid, even though the antigen test reflected negative. When I told her of my mom’s history with strokes, I was interrupted by the doctor who then just dismisses me to have a fat personal chat to a college. When that conversation eventually ends, the doctor tells me that she is 100% sure that my mother has not had a stroke. After hearing my mom will only be covered for a stroke or heart attack by the medical insurance, they told me I can either pay cash or leave.

We ended up taking my mother to Groote Schuur hospital after wasting all this time at N1City.Groote Schuur Hospital confirmed that my mom indeed had a major stroke, and we were then able to arrange a transfer to Christiaan Barnard Netcare where my mom was admitted for almost a month, they were absolutely amazing, all this was covered by our medical insurance.

All the time that was wasted at N1City Hospital and then the long waiting periods at Groote Schuur would have been time where my mother was treated, but instead we were shown away by N1City, after we were discriminated against based on what seemed my mom’s personal profile, as well as an incorrect diagnoses.

My mother now has long term speech problems as well as other problems, which could’ve been prevented, had we been helped by N1City when we got there. But I guess we’ll never know.

N1City hospital now has the AUDACITY to harass us via emails and sms to pay a bill of R510.67,this is after I tried to speak to management to tell them they did nothing but make my mother’s situation worse.

They are expecting us to pay for what exactly?? Being discriminated against, or for being wrongly diagnosed?

The staff at this hospital really needs to realise that we live in a democracy, and that it is no longer acceptable to be racially or socially profiling people. When taking a loved one to an emergency room, it is usually because medical care is needed, and this can only be a very stressful emotional time for family members. The last thing one needs is to be reminded is that the people one is seeking help from will first determine if your personal and physical profile meet their requirements to earn their respect and medical care.

NETCARE N1CITY EMERGENCY ROOM IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS ARCHAIC ER I HAVE EVER COME ACROSS!