TelehealthSA

Exploitative service, broken promises, and complete lack of care

I am writing this to warn other patients about the shocking lack of professionalism, empathy, and accountability from TelehealthSA. I reached out to them explicitly stating that I have been dismissed by other doctors for two years and that I am currently unemployed due to my chronic health struggles. They assured me they specialize in women's hormonal issues, work strictly on symptoms, and told me explicitly via email that no new blood tests would be required. Based on this, I paid the R400 fee for a 15-minute consultation. I also sent through a highly detailed profile containing my extensive medical history, past test results, symptoms, and logs so the doctor could review them beforehand. The issues began immediately: 1. **Booking mismanagement:** They gave my original appointment slot away to someone else because they claimed they "did not see" my proof of payment. 2. **Substandard consultation:** When I finally got an appointment the next day, the doctor joined 5 minutes late. The entire meeting lasted only 6 minutes. Instead of reviewing the profile I sent, he asked basic questions I had already answered in writing (like my age and symptoms). He then contradicted their email and told me I needed *more* tests before abruptly ending the call. 3. **Ghosting and broken promises:** I spent money I do not easily have to get the new tests done and sent them through. They ignored me. When I followed up, they apologised and promised a meeting with a new doctor who "specialises in patients in my boat." 4. **Unprofessional communication:** After waiting 5 days and complaining about the lack of feedback, I woke up to an email with absolutely no body text—no greeting, no explanation. It simply contained two image attachments for even *more* repeated blood tests and chest X-rays. Since sending a formal complaint about this abysmal treatment, TelehealthSA has gone 100% silent and is completely ignoring me. They took money from an unemployed, vulnerable patient under false pretences, wasted my time, forced me to pay for unnecessary repeated tests, and have now ghosted me. **Desired Resolution:** I want a full refund of my R400 consultation fee and a formal apology from management for the psychological distress and financial exploitation.