Questionable Standards!

I am of opinion that this is a very carefully worded responser by the Public Relations Department.

I will consult with the patient and report back accordingly.

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your email. At Akeso Clinic Parktown, we strive to give the best possible care to the patients admitted in our facility.

The decision to transfer was in the interest of safety for the patient, so that they may continue treatment at one of our sister hospitals to avoid further incidents from occurring.

In the interest of patient confidentiality, we are not at liberty to discuss a patient's treatment with yourself without the patient granting you express permission to access such information. The action taken against the other patients is carried out after a thorough investigation is conducted as per our internal controls.

As a hospital we have acted in the best interest of all parties involved in dealing with this matter.

Kind Regards

Umesh Dayah
Hospital Manager
Akeso Parktown Clinic
Tel: ********** Ext: 101
Fax: **********
Email: ********** />Web: www.akeso.co.za

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your response.

I am however of opinion, it is a typical response, that any business would draft, to indemnify themselves of any liability to prevent legal litigation.

I would like to reiterate my concerns and opinions, to provide clarity to my initial correspondence, as there appears to be a misunderstanding as to what I was stating as my opinion and / or fact!

My primary concern and of the patients wife and friends, is for the safety and wellbeing, as well as rehabilitation, of the patient, Mr. ***XX.

My secondary concern, is the safety and wellbeing, of other patients, that may have or may be or have been, placed in a similar situation in the past, present or future, as all the patients, have rights and depending on their physical and mental status, are vulnerable and either being victimised, intimidated, discriminated against or assaulted, can result in them retaliating and either causing physical or detrimental harm to themselves, other patients or hospital staff and visitors.

With regards to the transferring of the patient, I agreed with the transfer, as per my original correspondence, as it was in the best interest of the patient, but I believe and am of opinion, that it should of taken place on the day of the incident, Saturday the 25th of March and not only late on Monday the 27th of March.

My understanding, from my discussions with the patient, is that the incident was interrupted by one of your security personnel and the patient reported the incident, to his Doctor that evening, during his consultation and Therapy.

Action should have been taken immediately and the patient transferred, irrespective of any logistical or administrative procedures, as the patient was vulnerable and exposed to potential threats, for an additional two nights and days, which I find totally unacceptable.

I however do understand, that the option of being transferred, was discussed with the patient by the Doctor and that only after I discussed the incident with the patient during my visit on Sunday the 26th of March, where are encouraged the patient, to request and immediate transfer, as it was in his best interest for his physical and mental wellbeing, with recovery being the priority.

I am of opinion, but I may be wrong, that any patient, in any Medical Facility, such as yours, is under your guardianship and even though you would like to identify yourself, you are responsible for their wellbeing, due to their mental state.

The onus thus, was with the Doctor or Facility, to immediately report the incident to the local South African Police Service, so that their investigation could run concurrently with yours and that all the legal action, if required, could be implemented, not almost seven days later and only because I have made this incident public through the various channels at my disposal, as well as Facebook, Hello Peter and Carte Blanche.

With regards to patient confidentiality, I fully understand it and agree with it and at no time during my correspondence, did I request any confidential information. I only raised my concerns with regards to my opinion with regards to the treatment of the patient, based on my observations and feedback from the patient, as well as other patients at the Akeso Parktown Facility, that confided in me.

I know the patient very well, better than the Doctor, as the patient has confided things with me, which he has not and will not confide with the Doctor. I am aware all of the medical history, doctors’ visits and hospitalization, over the last five or six years, his medical conditions and what he is capable or instate of doing and if I need to know, I will ask him and he will tell me, as we are very good friends and we trust each other, so I don’t need to ask either you or the Doctor about his treatment.

In his stay in the Akeso facilities, I have either visited him daily, or corresponded with him either telephonically or via WhatsApp, so I may have actually spend more time with him, than his doctor.

I am fully aware, as in any business, that you have systems, policies, directives and procedures in place, which both Patients, Hospital Staff, Doctors and Visitors have to adhere to, failing which, there is remedial and or disciplinary action, or even immediate discharge if it is a patient, as well as possible legal proceedings or charges laid with the South African Police Services.

This, however, does not prevent anybody from contravening the systems, policies, directives and procedures and swift action should be taken, to immediately address the actions, investigate the incidents and apply the remedial action or disciplinary or legal action, whichever is applicable.

The offending patient, has already been discharged, according to the patient / victim, and I am sure that the co-accused, may also have already been discharged, or due soon, so it is already too late to have an investigation or enquiry and to implement, remedial, disciplinary or legal action.

My priority, the patients, his wife and his friends, is for the patient to receive the correct treatment for his condition and illness, so that he can come home healthy and in a better state than when he entered the facility.

I am however of the opinion, that the patient has regressed since the latest incident, as he has been traumatized, by the latest event where he was victimised, intimidated and assaulted, due to his opinion that he stated, as I communicated to your organization in my original correspondence.

This is the second incident of which I was informed of by the patient and that was communicated to hospital staff.

In the first incident, the patient was discriminated against and antagonised by other patients. You can get the details from Matron Adri Coetzee, as I informed her on the 18th of March and she said she would address the incident and discuss with the patient.

When the patient was transferred to your Akeso Parktown Facility, from the Rosebank Hospital, he was initially hesitant to stay there, but after a week, he confided in me that he was happy with your facility, the staff, food and his Doctor, as well as that he intended on staying the full 21 days, as he wanted to deal with his chronic illness, get better and carry on with his life, afresh.

However after the first incident, I noted a decline in his positivity and after the second, even more.

This is of grave concern to me and his wife, as we want the *** we know back, not he ***X that the last three weeks have created.

I know I cannot tell you what to do and won’t try to, because the damage has already been done.

I will leave it up to the patient, relevant authorities and public, to be judge, jury and executioner.

There is no compensation that you can do to give me back my friend, ***X!

Yours sincerely,

Can you please remove this post?