Leratong Hospital under fire for poor-quality service

Several patients and their loved ones have approached the Krugersdorp News about Leratong Hospital, accusing it of poor-quality service and mistreatment.

All of these complainants raise the same question: Can the public still rely on Mogale City’s public healthcare facilities?

First, Chantelle Maree explained that she took her husband to Leratong to get him treated for his injuries.

“They mistreated us. The paramedics wanted to hand him over to a doctor in the trauma unit but that doctor refused to help. He then proceeded to ask another doctor to assist. That doctor also refused. Both those doctors were standing around and doing nothing. I then ask them why they are arguing about not wanting to help a patient?”

Maree added that she and her husband waited for hours before being helped. They were eventually moved to the medical emergency department for another doctor to check him where they made her husband walk to the trauma unit because there was no wheelchair available.

“Why didn’t they get another wheelchair as my husband was weak and unstable due to all the blood loss?”

In addition to the poor service, Maree also described the condition of the hospital and stated that rats could be seen inside the facility.

”I saw rats running in the passage behind the chairs and in the waiting room,” she claimed.

Another complainant, Anche Labuscagnhe, also had a family member requiring urgent medical care and was also met with poor service.

”I am deeply concerned and disappointed by the treatment my husband received while being admitted and during his stay recently. Despite his significant pain and discomfort, he was not given the necessary attention by a doctor. It is extremely concerning when there is a lack of urgency from medical staff. Isn’t that what they are employed to do in the first place? This neglect of patient care is unacceptable.”

She added, “Given that hospitals are meant to provide timely, compassionate, and professional medical attention, the absence of such care at Leratong raises serious concerns. Patients in pain should not be left without immediate assistance or proper communication from healthcare providers.”

Tanya Marshall said she recently went to visit the hospital and described its state as incompetent.

”My son went to casualties in October. In the morning up until that night, he did not have a bed. During this time, one of the staff offered the patients something to drink and eat but we were not allowed to take stuff to our loved ones. We were flabbergasted because how can you leave patients without food or something to drink? How is it that the staff and doctors leave patients for 12 hours without care? We were also forced to park our vehicle on the opposite side of the hospital next to the taxi rank without reason.”

Marshall added that the facilities in the ward were in poor condition, as there was no linen nor pillows, water was also not provided to patients, windows were broken and there was a lack of hygiene.

“It is dirty and toilets are in a poor state. This is all basic human rights that are being violated.”

All the complainants said they had filed an official complaint with the hospital.

The News reached out to the hospital’s communication officer, Matlhatsi Dibakwane, for comment, however, no response was given after seven days. The News will publish their feedback once received.