Patient waits two weeks for operation
Due to a backlog caused by a shortage of anesthetists, a patient had to wait two weeks for an operation.
Ernst Gouws (40) allegedly had to wait two weeks before an operation was performed on him after almost losing the top his left middle finger in an accident on 30 July.
He told the NEWS that he injured his finger with a metal sheet at about 3pm that day.
“The finger was chopped off almost completely, and was held intact by a piece of skin.”
Gouws and his wife Tina (32) rushed to Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital where he was told that they were unable to help him and that he needed to go to Leratong Hospital for medical care.
There they waited for a doctor to see him and allegedly the doctor took about 10 minutes to prepare the surgical instruments he needed to clean and stitch up the badly injured finger.
From there he was sent to the X-ray room, where the service was “excellent”.
“I was admitted to the hospital only after midnight where I was told that I would be spending the night on a stretcher.”
He says that patients slept in chairs as there were not enough beds available.
He had to lay on a stretcher for three days, and from 3 to 8 August he was given a proper hospital bed. Then he was told that he could spend the long weekend at home and should return on Monday 12 August.
“They sent me home without any medication.
“When I returned I was given a stretcher again. On 14 August, with the finger already showing signs of decay I was taken to theatre to have it cared for properly.”
After the operation he was discharged from hospital and was given a bandage, antibiotics and a few pain tablets.
“They did not even provide me with disinfectants.”
Grey Dube, chief executive officer at Leratong Hospital confirms Gouw’s visit and says that his operation was delayed due to a backlog caused by a shortage of anaesthetists, but that all emergencies remain a priority.
He says that patients are referred to Leratong Hospital for the specialised care they require.
Dr Yusuf Dadoo Hospital is a level one district hospital that does not have specialists to treat the patients, therefore those requiring specialised care are referred to Leratong Hospital, a level two district hospital that provides specialist care.
“We are the only hospital serving the entire West Rand area and parts of the Johannesburg Metro. Our capacity is inadequate because of service demands and high rates of trauma and violence in our area.”
To the question as to why patients sleep on stretchers, Dube replies that the wards often are overcrowded, which results in patients in a less serious condition being accommodated on stretchers.
Gouws has to return to the hospital on 11 September for a follow-up consultation.
