Pietermaritzburg’s Northdale Hospital has denied ignoring the plight of a patient who arrived needing urgent treatment after suffering a seizure.
The family of the patient (32) claimed staff ignored her for more than two hours after she had been taken to the hospital by ambulance.
However, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has strongly disputed the allegations, saying she was never denied care and that the family had left voluntarily before treatment could be completed, reports The Witness.
The woman’s fiancé explained that she typically suffered from panic attacks and seizures but was generally able to recover without extended medical intervention. But on Sunday, she had experienced a very severe attack, for which they sought medical help.
“An ambulance drove her to Northdale and when we got there, she had to get her blood pressure and vitals checked, and they gave us a card. But she was still having seizures and wasn’t recovering, yet no one could give us any help.”
He claimed they waited for more than two hours for assistance.
“She was on the bed shaking, and no one was willing to help,” he said, adding that the paramedics remained to stabilise her while they waited.
When he pleaded for help, he was reportedly told they needed to complete paperwork before a doctor could see her.
“We were told we needed to open a file first, but there was no one to assist us as there was no admin clerk present. We pointed this out and asked if they could at least attend to her in the meantime, but they wouldn’t. Eventually, I gave up, and we returned home, where we monitored her. Fortunately, she recovered.”
Midlands EMS Operations Director Roland Robertson confirmed that paramedics had tried to alert hospital staff to the woman’s condition, but that they were met with inaction.
“The patient had a seizure in the casualty (ward) while waiting in the triage area, and still we received no help from the staff. We had to intervene and treat her again.”
KZN Health refuted the allegations, citing official records and staff testimonies.
Department spokesperson Ntokozo Maphisa said: “The department normally does not comment publicly regarding the management of patients.
“Gven the severity of the allegation – and the fact that it is contrary to information at its disposal – the department is compelled to deviate from the norm and state that, according to sworn statements by staff on duty at the time, the patient was never denied treatment or turned away.
“She left the facility at the volition of her family.
“The patient was brought in by private ambulance, triaged, and found to be a yellow code, meaning her situation was urgent but could wait.
“She was placed on a hospital stretcher, awaiting further assessment by the doctors who were attending to patients in a more serious condition.
“It is alleged that after just 30 minutes, the patient was taken away by her relatives in a private vehicle – without informing any of the hospital staff.
“Based on this, the department rejects in the strongest possible terms any insinuations that she was ‘refused urgent healthcare treatment’.”
Maphisa also pointed out the accessibility of senior hospital staff for any concerns or complaints that may arise: “All healthcare facilities in the department are mandated by KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane to prominently display the cellphone contact details of the hospital PRO, CEO, and the district director.”
Northdale Hospital board chairperson Hlalani Zondi confirmed that incident was under investigation, and that a report would be submitted to the Department of Health.
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