Unacceptable service from a nurse

On Wednesday night, 22 April 2026*, I was admitted to *Netcare Alberton Hospital Casualty* in a very poor state. I was physically weak, exhausted, and felt like I was going to die. I was put on a drip and treated well by *Dr Thenjiwe Mkwa***** – I have no complaint against the doctor, she did her job professionally.

The issue is with *Nurse Ndaba* who attended to me. After Dr Mkwa**** left to help another patient, I told Nurse Ndaba I was not stable to go to the office tomorrow to work. I asked her: _“Can I please get a sick note because I don’t think I’m stable enough to work.”_

Nurse Ndaba’s response was: _“I’m not the one responsible for sick notes. Why didn’t you ask the doctor?”_ She did not offer to check if the doctor was available, ask if I was willing to wait, or help me in any way. She just said it wasn’t her job and walked away.

At that point I was too ill, tired, and hopeless to argue. I felt completely dismissed and abandoned when I was at my most vulnerable.

. I didn’t even know only a doctor could do a sick note – Netcare should have a clear process communicated to patients. A simple sign on the bed/door saying “Nurses can’t do sick notes – ask doctor before they leave” would’ve solved this. . Nurse Ndaba’s dismissive attitude caused me emotional distress and left me without a sick note, which has now caused problems with my employer. . This is the level of care patients get at Netcare? We pay medical aid/come to private hospitals to be treated with dignity, not to be brushed off when we’re sick.

I’m not gonna let this matter slide I’m going to complain with the South African nursing council against the nurse