A man injured in an accident claims he was left for days in Steve Biko Academic Hospital’s emergency ward without a bed, facing conflicting diagnoses from doctors and even a shortage of plasters.

Gerhard van der Merwe (44) was involved in an accident on October 30, and was taken to the emergency ward of the Steve Biko Academic Hospital.

According to his wife, Daniella, he was taken for X-rays and discharged the same day.

“We were told that Gerhard had not broken anything, and they sent him home without cleaning or treating the wounds he sustained in the accident.”

She said Gerhard’s hand was severely swollen, and he complained of pain and discomfort.

“We returned to the emergency ward on November 4, and he had to sit in a chair until November 7 as they did not have any beds available. I was also not allowed to see him.”

Gerhard was put on an IV drip, but this kept on falling out as there was no plaster to secure the needle in his hand. When he inquired about it, the nurse allegedly said they did not have plasters available.

“In a span of four days, Gerhard’s arm was “broken” twice and “not broken” three times. Even the doctors argued among themselves about whether the arm was actually broken or not.”

She said the bathrooms of the hospital were not only contaminated with urine but the walls were smeared with blood.

“His dinner was even stolen from him during one of the evenings.”

She said by Friday morning, Gerhard had reached his limit. By then, he had spent four days sitting in a chair with no treatment except for an IV drip that kept falling out.

He discharged himself, and they had to fight to get out of the hospital.

“We are in complete shock at the state of affairs at the hospital and that people who rely on state sources are treated this way.”

Gerhard was taken to a private doctor who found that he had sustained two fractures.

Rekord previously reported how a mother’s worst nightmare became a reality at Steve Biko Academic Hospital when she found her two-week-old baby covered in feces, only to be told by a nurse, “You can clean it yourself.”

The shocking incident, involving a baby diagnosed with a rare birth defect, has sparked outrage, raising serious concerns about the state of care at the hospital.

Rekord contacted the Gauteng Department of Health and the hospital for comment but received no response.

Read more here: Newborn with birth defect left in filth at Steve Biko Academic Hospital

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