Tembisa Hospital misdiagnoses patient nine times
Staff shortages are a major challenge to the hospital that caters to more than 2.5 million patients a year
AN Esselen Park resident was misdiagnosed nine times at Tembisa Hospital and was eventually treated at Edenvale Hospital.
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Refiloe Nt’sekhe, DA constituency head of Tembisa, said she came across the woman during a recent oversight visit to Esselen Park.
“I was saddened to learn of the unfortunate suffering of the woman whose illness had worsened after being misdiagnosed nine times. In an effort to assist, I took her to Edenvale Hospital where she was immediately admitted and correctly diagnosed with anaemia. “With the correct diagnosis and treatment, there were immediate signs of improvement.
“The incompetence of Tembisa Hospital staff is unacceptable and needs to be urgently addressed. One has to wonder how many other patients Tembisa Hospital has misdiagnosed? Nt’sekhe asked.
“It is disappointing that Tembisa Hospital and Edenvale Hospital, while are relatively close to one another, are on opposite ends of the service spectrum. Twenty years into our democracy, all citizens, regardless of where they live, should have access to high quality and affordable health care.
“The shortcomings of Tembisa Hospital are not new to health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, who, alongside Gauteng premier, David Makhura, conducted a surprise visit in June last year. During the premier and MEC’s visit they identified staff shortages as a major challenge to the hospital that caters to more than 2.5 million patients a year.
“Given these shortcomings, I will request that MEC Mahlangu provide a full breakdown regarding what steps have been taken by her department to rectify the challenges plaguing this facility,” she said.
