DRIEKOP – A patient at Dilokong Hospital has described its condition and treatment as shocking and tragic.
David Ward (34) of Madipaneng, said he was involved in a car accident on February 19 but had not yet had surgery. He told Steelburger/Lydenburg News that he had a fractured leg and was afraid he might be disabled because of the hospital’s negligence.
“After I was admitted the doctor told me I needed bed rest, and would have to undergo an operation. He booked me for surgery at the Mankweng Hospital in Polokwane on February 26, because there was no proper medical equipment at Dilokong.
“When the day eventually came, I was told there was no transport to take me to Mankweng.” He alleged that it had a been a month since he was admitted and he had not yet undergone surgery.
“The doctor booked me three times, but every time I was told by management that there was no transport.”
“The hospital does not have the basic essential medical devices, and I was forced to wait five days for my blood to be tested as they didn’t even have a test tube,” he alleged. He said the hospital management borrowed one from nearby Modikwa Mine.
When Steelburger/Lydenburg News visited the male surgical ward, he also complained about two nurses who were allegedly ill-treating patients. The names of the nurses are known to the paper.
“Every time we call them for help, they snub us and pretend they haven’t heard us. I am bedridden and can’t go to the loo by myself and they refuse to help,” added Ward, who ironically works at the Dilokong Gateway Clinic as a groundsman, about one kilometre from the hospital.
He said the treatment changed for the better when he contacted the National Department of Health, because one day later, he was rushed to Mankweng.
“I called the office of the minister, Aaron Motsoaledi on March 12 and they started taking me seriously. The following day I was taken to Mankweng where I was blamed for not honouring my appointments. There were no beds and I had to return without being operated on.
“I was told to return on March 19, and I pray that this time I will be assisted. This has been a month of living in hell,” he said.
According to Ward, patients have nicknamed Dilokong “maotong a gago” a Sepedi phrase which figuratively means “your death”.
“The name was given because after the patient is admitted here, chances of surviving are slim, mostly die due to nursing negligence,” he alleged.
Ward applauded the work done by the doctors but lambasted the management and some of the nursing staff.
At the time of going to print the spokesman for Dilokong Hospital, Mr William Makola, had not been available for comment.
