Husband’s horror at Sheppie hospital
The man claims hospital staff mistreated his wife.
A SUNWICH Port man has criticised the Port Shepstone Regional Hospital for its alleged poor treatment of his wife after finding her lying in her own dried faeces and urine.
Louie Beukman rushed his wife Nomsa (33) to hospital after she collapsed at home on December 4.
During the next four months she was admitted to hospital several times.
“When I asked what was wrong with her, I was told various things, from suspected TB, possible HIV/Aids, dementia to… ‘I don’t know you must take her home’,” he said.
In April, Mr Beukman rushed his wife back to the hospital after she collapsed again.
According to Mr Beukman, she was prescribed oral rehydration medicine and sent home.
The following day, Mr Beukman took her back to the hospital, where a doctor admitted her again, and requested a brain scan, which revealed she had suffered a stroke.
His wife was sent to the Genesis Care Centre, were she died on April 15.
Mr Beukman claimed that at times the treatment his wife received was less than desirable. He felt the nursing staff and doctors weren’t as helpful as he had anticipated, although those in ward four and J ward had proven to be the exception.
He said his wife’s hands had been tied to the bed with bandages until they formed sores. Her bell had also been taken away. “I was told it was all due to her being confused, but she had had a stroke,” he said.
On another occasion, Mr Beukman found his wife’s food untouched. “My wife was unable to move or talk, so why didn’t anyone feed her?” he questioned.
On another occasion he found his wife lying in her own dried faeces and urine.
When he confronted the staff, he was allegedly told to come back during visiting hours. “So who knows how long she was lying there in her own waste, unable to move or cry out for help,” he said.
Hospital spokesman Phumza Morai said management sympathised with Mr Beukman on his loss, but said that the nature of his wife’s condition had led to her unfortunate demise.
“Every time she was presented to casualty, she was investigated, and when the condition warranted admission, she was admitted for further investigation,” said Ms Morai.
She added that after perusing the medical records, the clinical manager from the casualty department couldn’t find fault in her clinical management from a casualty perspective.
Ms Morai said when Mr Beukman reported that staff had indecently treated his wife, the matter was fully investigated, but that the staff had denied all allegations.
Nevertheless, she said, management had addressed the matter by admonishing all staff involved and had offered Mr Beukman an apology.
However, Mr Beukman said he has not yet received an apology from the hospital.
