Issue 158 - FREE
15 DECEMBER 2017
Community News. Original - accurate - first
017 631 1903 / 017 631 1845 • admin@thebulletin.co.za • 1 Kiewiet Street, Secunda (Lake Umuzi)
Incompetent or just careless? More and more stories about the lack of care and service at Evander hospital is surfacing after a desperate mother struggled to get her son transferred to a hospital that can operate on him. 17-Year old High School Secunda student, Stephan Pelser, broke his back in *5 places when the family car skid and rolled on the outskirts of Secunda last Tuesday morning. He was admitted to Casualties where he laid for more than a day before being transferred to the surgical ward on Wednesday evening. But since the hospital doesn’t have a surgeon who can operate on him, he needed to be transferred to Witbank or Steve Biko. But the hospital refused to release him for different reasons. This according to Elsabe Pelser, Stephan’s mom. Dr. Bolembe apparently said he should get a brace before being transferred but staff ignored his orders and transported him to Ermelo provincial hospital to get a brace fitted. However, they returned with x-rays and no brace. X-rays which were already taken at Evander hospital. Worried that her child might have to lie in Evander hospital, possibly until 17 January next year, Elsabe contacted The Bulletin for assistance. Only after intervention from DA Councilor, Encee van Huyssteen and journalist Gwendie Venter, Stephan got transported by Netcare 911 to Steve Biko Academic hospital in Pretoria on Friday evening. How events unfolded during The Bulletin’s visit to Evander hospital: When we arrived at the hospital, we met Elsabe, a single mother, in front of the surgical ward and all that stood in the way of this single mother and her son was a rude security guard that decided who he unlocks the gate for. When asked if we could see Stephan, he said that we should wait until visiting hours. However, he let another man enter and when confronted, he said that the man was a patient in the ward. The same “patient” was seen walking out of hospital grounds a few hours later and confirmed to The Bulletin that he was not a patient but a visitor. According to Elsabe only some individuals are allowed entry into the ward during non-visiting hours and the staff and security decides who they like enough to make exceptions. We used the time to try and get the opinion of all parties involved. While the Councilor Encee van Huyssteen, was trying to get hold of the CEO, JS Aphane, Journalist Gwendie Venter went on to speak to Elsabe and other patients. The CEO was
not available for comment. When we were finally allowed to see Stephan, we found him in the same shirt he was wearing on the day of the accident, laying on a barely covered mattress and an almost full catheter that rests on a footstep. He told The Bulletin how he was left to his own mercy and had to lie in his own urine when his catheter bag overflowed. He also explained how he had to push the catheter tube back into his body when it got detached. He told us how he helplessly called the nurse to switch off the light one evening but that they ignored him and he could hear them laughing as they walked past his room and he received Panado’s for pain. “He sent me a message with crying faces, he said he is in so much pain. This after they told me to leave because they want to administer pain medication,” Elsabe said. During our visit on Thursday morning, tears ran down Elsabe’s cheeks as she begged staff for information and a chance to see the file but Masondo just looked at her with no interest in the case whatsoever. The doctor on duty, Dr. du Plessis, escorted us to a consulting room in the casualty ward and showed us the x-rays. The doctor who admitted Stephan, Dr. Bolembo was also present and phoned around, desperately trying to get Stephan transported but clearly didn’t receive co-operation. “He is a wonderful doctor and seems like the only one who really tried since day one,” Elsabe said. Encee phoned James Masangu, DA Provincial leader, who in turn contacted the MEC. The MEC contacted the hospital. The manager, Richard Ndlovu, called the relevant people into a consulting room. The Bulletin was not allowed to sit in on this meeting but afterwards Elsabe told The Bulletin that the manager was not happy about how the case unfolded. Apparently the manager said that Stephan should be transferred to Highveld Medi-Clinic on the states cost or he must be transferred to Pretoria before 17:00 on Thursday evening. The Bulletin left the hospital satisfied that something is happening but got a call late Thursday evening that informed us that he will be transferred to Witbank at 05:00 on Friday morning. We arrived at the hospital on Friday morning just to find out that Stephan is still in the same situation. - Continued to page 2
Inside...
Calvin has been found See page 3
Hawks awarded See page 6