Patient allegedly found lying in own excrement at Tshwane District Hospital
"He was tied to a hospital stretcher and his back was covered in his own faeces.”
An 84-year-old man’s treatment at the Tshwane District Hospital for dehydration left his wife shocked when she allegedly found him tied down to a hospital stretcher lying in his own excrement.
Judith Roberts said she took her husband, Arnold, to the hospital on Monday, September 30.
However, because of queues, her husband couldn’t be treated immediately; thus she was forced to leave him overnight.
Roberts said she sent a relative to check up on him the next day, but the relative couldn’t find him in the ward where the staff said he was supposed to be.
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“I was shocked when I found him the next day. Not only did I find him in a different ward, but he was tied to a hospital stretcher and his back was covered in his own faeces.”
The hospital’s chief executive Dr Naing Soe, however, denied that he was covered in faeces.
“According to our records, he had an adult diaper on all the time and never passed a stool while in the hospital.”
Roberts contested Soe’s account that her husband was “found undressing himself”.
Soe also said that Arnold was “uncooperative and delirious” and that “he removed the drip and was on antibiotics intravenously”.
“That is not true,” said Roberts. “Arnold couldn’t even hold a glass of water and he eats through a straw. He can’t walk on his own; I even wash and dress him, so how can he undress himself?”
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The hospital further claimed that Arnold was tied down “for his own good”.
It denied allegations that he was tied up in a room along with other patients.
“When we investigated the dates and the areas where the patient was nursed, there were no other patients that were tied down. The hospital does not have any ward where patients are tied down. With the medical records, please note that Mr Roberts was confused and restless,” said Soe.
“He is a soft-spoken man,” said Roberts of her husband.
“Even if he wanted to argue, he can barely talk. We communicate using hand signs or I have to read his lips.”
Roberts claimed that her husband was strapped so tightly with leather straps that his left arm’s mobility has been compromised.
She said Arnold has also developed a large lump on his back following his return from hospital.
Soe said Roberts’ husband was tied down so as to prevent an injury.
“The condition of the patient warranted him to be restrained and nursed in bed with side rails raised to prevent him from falling and harming himself.”
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The Silverton couple, who have been married for 29 years, vowed to never set foot in the hospital again.
Roberts is also planning on taking the hospital to court.
“I work at the new high court, I am in the legal industry and I am consulting with a legal advisor on how to hold the hospital accountable,” she said.
The Tshwane District Hospital said that they were aware of long waiting queues, but have discussed this problem at district level.
It further said it was working on a quality improvement plan to shorten waiting times at the hospital.
Soe said there are several ways for patients who feel mistreated to complain.
“There are unit managers or shift leaders day and night, a patient care office after hours and at night, a quality assurance coordinator during office hours. There are complaint boxes around the hospital and in strategic areas, there are photos of our senior managers with their contact numbers.”
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