Horror hospital complaint

FAMILY REQUEST PROBE INTO DYING MOM DISGRACE

THE family of a woman who they say was humiliated by staff at the Mitchells Plain District Hospital while she lay dying have lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

When Blanche Appollis, 62, woke up after being resuscitated, her family say that her hands were tied, she was naked and three porters laughed at her when she asked them to cover her up.

Even though her condition was serious, the family say she waited for hours to be seen by a doctor. Her family say nurses also didn’t help their mother to the toilet or give her a bed- pan, forcing her to wet herself. She died on May 26.

When Appollis arrived at the hospital on Sunday, May 24, her family say there were people sleeping on the floor, and some had been waiting for medical assistance since the Friday.

Provincial MEC for Health Nomafrench Mbombo has launched an investigation into the family’s allegations.

Mbombo said health facilities were under severe pressure, but the ill-treatment of patients was completely unacceptable.

The hospital serves about 432 462 people from Mitchells Plain, Phumlani, Mandalay, Brown’s Farm, Crossroads, Manenberg, Klipfontein and Philippi.

“We are proud of the quality of care that we have managed to offer the people of this area,” said Mbombo, adding that if the allegations were true, “there will be swift action in line with the core values of this government”.

Appollis’s dying request to her family was that they lodge a complaint with the authorities about how she was humiliated and treated with indignity at the hospital. The family have yet to hear the outcome of their complaint.

Her daughter Lee-Anne van Rensburg lodged a complaint with the Human Rights Commission this week. She said the hospital called her to arrange an appointment.

The Cape Times has been inundated with e-mails and comments on social media from people who say their family members suffered similar indignities at the hospital. Many said they had not bothered to lodge complaints as they had heard that complaints were not dealt with.

ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs said the party was concerned about the way people are being treated in public health facilities.

“Most of the victims of these horrid experiences are the poorest. We want a more caring Health Department and management that look after patients and consult about how to make the best use of scarce resources. We want management to put people first,” Jacobs said.

Most of the victims are poor. We want a more caring health department