MBOMBELA – Almost 14 months after dislocating his hip in a car accident on Valentine’s Day last year, a single father of four remains immobile and unable to work at home in Lydenburg.
After spending months in Rob Ferreira Hospital, he was at last referred to Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Johannesburg for his required treatment.
However, this is yet to be administered. Lowvelder reported about Mr Richard Fakude’s nightmare experience in Rob Ferreira last year. He was admitted there for months, while anxiously awaiting a hip replacement, before being transferred to Steve Biko for the surgery in September.
However, he said even there his injuries were not attended to.
The Mpumalanga Department of Health explained at the time it referred all complicated hip-replacement surgeries to Steve Biko.
Fakude was admitted there on September 18. He was scheduled to have surgery in October. However, he said he was discharged on December 10 without undergoing the operation.
He was told to return on February 8, but shown the door and informed that he would be contacted when the hospital was able to accommodate him.
Spokesman for the Mpumalanga Department of Health, Mr Dumisani Malamule said Fakude had multiple fractures when they first admitted him.
In February 2015 his hip was placed in traction. On March 23 a Steinman pin was inserted in his right leg. A hip reduction was done on April 30.
“(He) had psychological and social problems, hence he was treated for such and referred to (a) psychologist and social worker. He also had other physical conditions which were treated,” Malamule said.
He added that Fakude was further referred to an orthopaedic specialist from Steve Biko on May 31. He was also referred for further management at that hospital. On June 18 he underwent an operation for open reduction and had a K-wire inserted.
Malamule said as far as they were concerned, Fakude remains a patient of Steve Biko until referred back to Rob Ferreira.
“We are not aware that he was shown the door by Steve Biko Academic. (We) have orthopaedic surgeons, however, (he) has been transferred correctly for further management at Steve Biko Academic Hospital, and the specialists there are in a position to manage (his) problems.
“(We) will follow up with Steve Biko in terms of the management of Fakude,” he concluded.
In the meantime, Fakude remains desperate for help while he waits for something to happen at home in Lydenburg. He says he is unable to work in his condition, relying on his mother’s pension to feed his children, for whom he is the sole provider.
The Gauteng Department of Health did not respond to the newspaper’s queries.
