Clinic nebuliser ‘too expensive’ for sickly woman
“They told us to go to a doctor and get a note, since the drops they use in the nebuliser were very expensive and they could not just use it. Really!"
“Is this the way a sick person is treated? Do people’s health mean nothing when they have to use Government clinics?”
These are the concerns of a Newcastle resident, who was horrified at the lack of service at the Newcastle Primary Health Care Clinic on June 24.
Allegedly, the resident, who opted to remain anonymous, took his fiancée to the clinic at around 2am. She had flu, and contracted breathing problems during the night.
Eventually, he rushed the woman to the clinic, hoping to find a nebuliser to help her breathe.
“To my disappointment, we found a security guard fast asleep on the bench and had to shout for the nurses, who were very unfriendly, and still very deep in their sleep. From the looks of their untidy hair and red eyes, it was clear to see they had just woken up,” he said.
He asked the nurses to use a nebuliser to help his fiancée breathe, whereupon they allegedly asked for her clinic card, and returned with paracetamol and antibiotics.
“They told us to go to a doctor and get a note, since the drops they use in the nebuliser were very expensive and they could not just use it. Really! Why do they have equipment if they cannot use it on a patient in need? I really feel Newcastle health officials need to start giving us better health care,” he said.
Democratic Alliance KZN Health Spokesperson and Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Doctor Imraan Keeka said he received several complaints regarding what was perceived to be negligent after-hours service at the clinic.
“This is a 24-hour clinic and must render services to anyone who walks through the door at any time. I visited the clinic a few weeks ago, and brought this to the attention of the sister in charge. Clearly, there seems to be a continuation of the unhappy demeanour of night staff,” he explained.
He said health care providers were expected to provide services in keeping with the patients’ rights charter, which included the right to dignity and access to services.
“While I also make no attempt to dilute the nature of this complaint, we must remember that health care practitioners will provide health care services according to their training. Patient demands can’t be considerations and will possibly lead to practising against certain protocol. This is unfair to both parties. Although this may not be the case in this particular matter, it is something we need to keep in mind when we visit any health care provider,” he explained.
Dr Keeka undertook to refer the matter to the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Ombudsman, and revert to the resident with advice as soon as the investigation was concluded.
“I will also inform the Amajuba District Health manager in the hope that there is not a recurrence of such incidents.”
