Hospital staff’s unbecoming behaviour under the spotlight
The Gauteng Health Department said it will investigate the behaviour of one of the staff members at the OR Tambo Memorial Hospital.
This comes after Annatjie Harris tried, unsuccessfully, to obtain a follow-up appointment for her father-in-law, Nicolas Harris (80), at the OR Tambo Hospital eye clinic, after a successful cataract removal operation.
She said the specialist at the eye clinic, who oversaw and attended to her father-in-law during his operation, had been extremely helpful and professional.
However getting a follow-up appointment proved impossible.
She tried to contact the hospital on numerous occasions, only to find that their phone lines had been out of order, apparently caused by lightning damage.
“I was requested by another staff member to engage with the matron in charge at outpatients, leaving my contact details numerous times without any response to date,” said Harris.
She eventually managed to speak to the matron in charge, who then requested information related to her father’s file.
According to Harris, the matron would have made an appointment on her behalf at the eye clinic.
“I was amazed when I phoned again, to speak to the matron, to find out that 10 minutes after she spoke to me she suddenly was no longer available,” said Harris.
Harris eventually spoke to another staff member who said that patients need to make their own arrangements to secure appointments.
“For weeks I tried to explain my scenario to hospital officials without any success. After all, the patient could not get to hospital himself as he is turning 80 and relies on me for transport,” she said.
Gauteng Health Department spokesperson Prince Hamca said the telephone lines in Outpatients Department, among others, had been out of order.
Although Hamca said the matron’s behaviour will be investigated by her immediate manager and appropriate measures will be implemented, he said that Harris did not exhaust the chain of command which includes the manager at clinical services, the office of the CEO and the nursing service manager.
Hamca urged Harris to contact the CEO’s office, or bring the patient to the office on any day of the week, and consultation will be arranged.
