This comes after an Ekurhuleni resident, Sylvia Daniels, recently posted an open letter to the Health minister with regards to the alleged ill-treatment of patients by one of the nurses on staff at the clinic.
In her letter, Daniels speaks of how, although residing in Kempton Park, she would visit the Reiger Park Clinic to collect her monthly medication.
Daniels writes how she had, in the past, observed the nurse’s “ill-disciplined behaviour towards the sick and frail people visiting the clinic”.
“Unfortunately, I was served by her on May 31 this year. I find this behaviour disturbing and shocking for a public servant. She has a horrible attitude… she is rude, impolite and bad mannered,” she writes.
In her letter, Daniels speaks of how the nurse yells at patients, is interrogative towards them and does not treat them with respect.
“When she took my blood pressure, she ripped the equipment off of me and left it hanging on my hand.
“When she gave me my medication, she threw them at me and never explained how they need to be taken,” she says in this letter.
Daniels told the Advertiser that she was shocked at the attitude of the nurse when dealing with the clinic’s sick patients.
After receiving the letter, metro spokesperson, Sam Modiba, says that the complaint would be investigated and the appropriate disciplinary action would be instituted.
“In addition, the Quality Assurance Team has been requested to visit the health facility to re-enforce Batho Pele Principles, Patients Rights’ Charter, National Core Standards and accessibility of health services to all personnel to ensure compliance.
“The municipality strives to render quality health services and adherence to the Batho Pele Principles by all personnel is, therefore, essential,” says Modiba.
“The metro will do everything possible to prevent future occurrences.”
At the time of publishing, the Gauteng Department of Health had not responded to the letter or to the Advertiser.
