Somerset Hospital

***> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2023 2:17:07 PM To: Mark Albert <***> Subject: RE: Gross Negligence Gross Misconduct Good afternoon Mr. Albert

Your mail refers and is noted.

Sorry to hear about your negative experience at the facility.

Your concerns raised is noted however as noted in the very last paragraph of your email you indicated that your intention is to sue and in view of that it is your right to do so.

In view of your intent to sue we will therefore not have any further contact/engagement with you however the only communication will be between your lawyer and the Department of Health Legal team.

I trust the above is in order.

Regards

Ms. M Philander

Quality Assurance Manager

New Somerset Hospital

Ground Floor NG 9.9

North Block

Tel: ***

Email: ***

From: Mark Albert <***> Sent: Thursday, August 10, 2023 12:09 PM To: Marilyn Philander <***>; *** Subject: Re: Gross Negligence Gross Misconduct

You don't often get email from ***. Learn why this is important

Thank you

kind regards mark Albert

On Sat, 05 Aug 2023, 22:32 Mark Albert, <***> wrote:

Good day

I am writing to inform you of my intent to sue and or bring this matter to the attention of the highest officials overseeing the management of New Somerset

My name is

Mark Harold Albert

ID ***

Admitted Monday 28th July 2023

Discharged Friday 1st August 2023

Allocated to psychiatric division upon admission without any assesment being performed to determine the nature of treatment.

Left sitting for 2 days before a doctor came to see me which lasted 10 minutes.

No psychiatric analysis was performed upon arrival, during and or after was carried out.

Upon arrival and admission, nursing and doctors were advised I was

1.Bi polar

2.schizophrenic

3.Vascular artery blockages

4.Hypertension

5.High blood pressure

Quote:

New Somerset Hospital offers a 72-hour psychiatric observation service. According to the Mental Health Act, all acute patients are involuntary admitted for a 72-hour observation. The majority of the patients admitted present with drug-induced psychosis, such as "tik".

The purpose of the 72-hour assessment is to ascertain the cause of the patient's symptoms.

My required medication was left by my father with admission staff by my father.

The information provided was ignored by the treating doctor who spent 15minutes making notes and then sent me off for a kidney scan.

3 days after being there still no one attended to me and my medication NOT administered to me , even after numerous requests.

On the Wednesday I was told I'm being handed over to to MEDICINE as my condition was not psychiatric of nature.

By Thursday still I had not received my Bi polar medication, left sitting now 4 days sleeping on the couch.

Quote:

The purpose of the 72-hour assessment is to ascertain the cause of the patient's symptoms. Patients are assessed daily by the family medicine doctor, psychiatric trained registered nurse and a psychiatrist. Special investigations are done to ensure that there is no treatable medical condition giving rise to symptoms. Most substance intoxicated patients would recover from their intoxication in this period. Those patients requiring further involuntary treatment would be transferred to a designated psychiatric hospital for further management.

I approached the doctors to enquire what was going on and who my doctor was, I was told they didn't know and pointed at a young girl saying she was my doctor

Her response was she had no idea, no hand over was done and no assessment either psychiatric or medical was done

I begged her for my medication and the senior male nurse and nothing was done.

I was not advised as to the results of my kidney ultra sound, or treatment required and no final medical assesment was done

I found out from my private physician I have 25% functionality, attending Somerset staff failed to inform.

When finally I questioned doctors , I was told , they apologize for what happened and that I would be be discharged immediately

I spent 5 days, sitting on a couch, no assessment done. No feedback, no medication,no follow up,no handover procedures.

I intend suing for

Gross negligence

Gross misconduct

Failure to comply with hospital patient treatment

Endangering patients well being

Impact on medical and psychiatric condition of patient

Procedurally ignoring hospital protocol

Mistreatment and neglect

I can go on, though I'm sure your doctors, who told me to report this will be able to tell you exactly what was and what was not done

This incident has effected me both emotionally and mentally as my state of mind has been challenged getting back onto my prescription routine.

I ,as well was not given my medication for blood pressure,blood thinners and cholesterol due to a life threatening condition, hardening of the arteries and restricted blood flow on my right side,60% of 140 pressure.

The result and treatment required as a result of the kidney ultra sound , createnine levels at 240, not communicated further adds to the list of mistreatment endured at your hospital.

In summary, I intend suing for the maximum amount, in or out of court, to the sum of R1 million rand as well as ensuring this article is published on all social media sites

I await your response

kind regards mark Albert

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