Denosa concerned about patients’ ill treatment at health facilities

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) is concerned about claims that patients are being poorly treated at Joburg’s Helen Joseph Hospital.

Denosa Gauteng Secretary Bongani Mazibuko said it was sad to hear a patient expressing displeasure at the treatment from the hospitals.

“It is very concerning and disheartening when we hear patients expressing dissatisfaction like this, especially when they say, they are not being treated like human beings.

“We are confident that the investigation that is conducted by the Department of Health is going to show that nurses have done their job on their side in terms of what is expected according to nursing care,” Mazibuko said.

He said as a union, they would first want to get the full report from the department to say who needed to be held accountable.

This follows a viral video of a patient complaining that staff, including doctors, allow those being treated to suffer.

Gauteng Health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said a report by a clinician indicates that all the necessary steps were taken to ensure adequate treatment for media personality Thomas Holmes, aka Tom London, during his stay at Helen Joseph Hospital.

“Having received a briefing from the clinicians on the treatment given to Tom London, the department is satisfied that adequate clinical care was discharged to manage his condition.

“In addition, the department is willing to allow an independent process to review the quality of clinical care provided to him while at Helen Joseph Hospital,” Modiba said.

He said the facility does have infrastructure problems.

“There are known infrastructure issues which are being attended to as part the maintenance and refurbishment programme. However, these have not had a material effect on the treatment given to patients admitted at the hospital.”

The department further stated that MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko met with the management team of Helen Joseph Hospital with senior officials from the department where she was appraised about the care provided to Holmes following his complaint on social media.

The Star

sipho.jack@inl.co.za

• Updated Gauteng Health investigates patient’s maltreatment complaints at Helen Joseph Hospital

• Gauteng health steps up security after ‘bogus’ doctor incidents at hospitals

• Concern over hospital security as another bogus ‘doctor’ is nabbed