Since revelations of a former Constantiaberg Mediclinic patient, 74-year-old Ian Quinton, surfaced following his stay and experience at the facility (“Clinic looks into claims”, People’s Post, 12 March), many readers voiced similar concerns relating to care at the hospital.
The Mediclinic hospital group has since responded once again to the additional complaints.
Quinton detailed concerns related to the hospital’s nursing staff, troubling revelations related to being bathed while enduring humiliating comments about his naked body and night shift irregularities.
Letter One:
One such reader Patrick de Wet first reached out in a letter, telling of his mother who was admitted to the clinic in 2016. She was 83 and frail. He said he was really shocked by the following:
“I was visiting her during lunch time. The person who was responsible for taking lunch to patients, who looked no more than about 18-years-old, brought a chicken wrap on a plate, put it down on the table and walked away.”
De Wet said his mother had no teeth and could not sit up by herself.
“How they thought she was going to manage to eat a chicken wrap is beyond me. The way I see it, making sure a patient is nourished is one of the most basic elements of nursing. Seeing them neglect to do that effectively, I shudder to think what else they don’t do. I would never recommend Constantiaberg and would certainly not go there myself,” he concluded.
Letter two:
In another letter initialed PJH, he claimed to have been previously admitted for a hip replacement.
He wrote: “The People’s Post’s coverage of Constantia Mediclinic refers. [Quinton’s] appalling treatment could almost be classified as normal judging by the treatment I received as did others in my ward during my stay. ”
The author of this letter claims to have been “fit and had no health issues at all”. However, within three days of the stay, this former patient claimed to have had five serious infections “not related to the hip operation”.
“ ‘Nursing service’ is an oxymoron at Constantiaberg. Unlike [Quinton], I was only bathed every two days by very reluctant nurses who paid no attention to my hip operation and once actually grabbed my hip to turn me over… Any questioning or request to the nurses that required some effort led to punishment by them who then simply ignored all bell calls.
“Please, please, please, I never want to go back to such an uncaring place,” this author concluded.
Letter three:
A third letter from an anonymous reader expressed their gratitude for the previous coverage dealing with the initial complaint about Constantiaberg.
She shared: “My neighbour’s daughter had to seek help there last month during the night hours and my neighbour told me how disappointed and unsatisfied she was about the service – from the doctor who attended to her child, to the nursing staff (whom she said were ‘clueless’ and nonchalant).
“I shared your article with her and she felt very grateful that someone highlighted the problem she, too, encountered. My heart really went out to what that gentleman had to experience and I could understand why he didn’t want to complain whilst still being hospitalised because I am sure he would have been victimised further.”
Hospital group responds
The group responded by Friday 22 March, stating “Mediclinic takes feedback from clients seriously, and investigates all complaints thoroughly and give direct feedback to the complainants”.
It guaranteed that, where a skills gap in care is identified, the necessary training will take place. In relation to the case of Quinton’s complaint earlier in March, Mediclinic also confirmed that remedial action is already in place.
“Mediclinic remains open to engage with clients, and directly addresses any areas of concern to improve their experience within our hospitals.”
