Patients told to wait for medical help
Evening patients contacted Review saying there was no one at the clinic to assist them - Review investigates
POLOKWANE – Patients who visit Rethabile Clinic claim the service at this provincial clinic is beyond poor and that nursing staff threaten them if they dare to complain.
Patients explained to Review that staff at the clinic are unfriendly, rude and because of this, patients are afraid to approach them with questions.
“When you ask the personnel something they pull their faces and answer you with a bad attitude. Some of them shout at you or just ignore you when you ask a question,” one of the patients explained to Review.
Tuesday 10 Nov
In a shocking incident on Tuesday one of the personnel in the maternity ward at the clinic told waiting patients who complained about the long wait they will wait until they die.
This was captured on a cellphone clip which was forwarded to Review. (watch here)
In another case a pregnant woman was threatened to be hit by the nursing staff. Read her story in Review Weekend
Last Thursday, 5 Nov
Evening patients contacted Review saying there was no one at the clinic to assist them.
Review journalist went to investigate.
22:00
On arrival just after 20:00, Review found this to be true – patients sat in the waiting area in vain.
There was also no one in the cubicle where patients’ blood pressure and other vitals are checked before seeing a sister.
Review also observed that there were no one in the examination cubicles. The only clinic personnel visible was a cleaner who was busy cleaning the toilets at the time of our visit.
21:00
By 21:00 two adult patients and three parents who brought their children with flu waited to be helped.
21:15
By 21:15 a nurse came to the waiting area. When the patients asked when they would be helped, she told them they were busy with sick patients in the ward and would help them when they were done with those patients.
One of the patients replied that they too were sick and had been waiting for more than two hours.
The nurse responded they were only two nurses and three sisters on duty.
“We are short staffed and there is nothing we can do about it. We have asked management for more people to work at night, but nothing was done regarding our request. There is a sister and nurse in the maternity ward, and the rest of us are working in the ward helping sick people.
“They are very sick, we have to change them and give them medication. As soon as we are done in the ward we will come to help you,” the nurse said trying to reassure the waiting patients.
21:45
The waiting patients became restless and Review went in search of a sister, finding one. After introducing herself, the waiting patients were helped.
Department of Health – ‘shortage of nursing staff is not an excuse for bad treatment’
Macks Lesufi, spokesperson for the Department of Health, confirmed there is a shortage of nursing personnel at the clinic in comparison with the patient ratio.
“Rethabile Clinic is the only clinic in town which offers a 24-hour service. It’s catchment area includes people as far as Seshego and neighbouring villages.
“Over and above anyone in the city who needs urgent or unscheduled medical care uses the facility. However, the shortage of nursing staff is not an excuse for bad treatment of patients or rendering sub-standard service,” Lesufi added.
He confirmed the alleged incidents of patients being ill-treated have been brought to the department’s attention including the video in Review’s possession.
“As a Department of Health which cares about our patients we will institute a team to deal with the challenges alluded to in particular staff attitudes. We are also engaging with the management of the facility to assess and evaluate the system with regard to patient waiting time,” Lesufi said.
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