Patient claims negligence cost him his toe
A Tambo Memorial Hospital patient, who was admitted for the removal of an ingrown toenail, now has to live with the removal of his entire toe, due to possible medical negligence.
By the time the patient, who wishes to remain anonymous, was admitted on February 7, the ingrown nail on the right big toe was already infected.
“I did not receive any treatment for six days (from February 7 to 13). Neither was my toe wrapped with bandages,” the complainant said.
The toenail was eventually removed on February 13.
However, according to the complainant, the removal of the toenail was performed under local anaesthetic in the ward in which he slept, not in theatre.
“Also, the nail was just pulled out and not removed properly by cutting it loose,” the complainant added.
After the removal of the toenail, it was discovered that a ”sore” was growing under the nail.
Apparently the patient was discharged two days later, without being given any bandages or medication to clean and treat the wound.
Nine days after the surgery, on February 22, he went back to Tambo Memorial Hospital, because the wound was not healing.
“Black dots were appearing on the wound, which was later discovered to be gangrene” the complainant said.
At the end of February, the patient went for an epidural in theatre, to see whether his toe could be saved.
Unfortunately, this was not the case and it had to be amputated.
The patient was discharged more than a month after surgery, on April 10, because the wound became infected.
“If the correct medical procedure was followed for the removal of the ingrown toenail from the day I was admitted, there would have been no need to remove my entire toe,” he said.
The patient considered taking further steps against the hospital.
According to the Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson, Steve Mabona, the complainant is a known patient at Tambo Memorial Hospital.
“He was admitted, on February 7, with poorly controlled type two diabetes, poor compliance with his diabetic medication, as well as non-monitoring of blood glucose,” Mabona said.
“The patient was assessed and the necessary medication was administered during his stay at the hospital.”
The hospital was in the process of scheduling an appointment with the patient’s family, when details of the patient’s medical records, treatment, as well as his stay in hospital were to be discussed in detail.
According to Mabona, the family would also have been given an opportunity to raise their concerns and offered psycho-social counselling, if it was required.
However, on May 13, the complaint was considered as resolved.
“The hospital scheduled two redress meetings to address the patient’s concerns, but he did not allow the hospital to redress,” Mabona said.
The department requests patients who experience difficulties in any health institution to report their concerns to quality assurance officers based at all Department of Health institutions.
If they are not satisfied they should report to the facility managers (CEOs of the respective hospitals, or the clinic managers, as applicable).
“Their concerns will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated,” Mabona said.
Patients are also encouraged to lodge any disgruntlement or otherwise through the department’s 24-hour call centre, on 0860 011 000.
