Dear Editor,
On Tuesday, September 21, a Grade 9 student of the Vryman’s Erven Secondary School was taken by his class teacher to the New Amsterdam Public Hospital after complaining of a stomach ache. Since the child could not walk, a wheelchair had to be summoned upon arrival at the hospital. At the emergency section of the facility, the teacher tried to get the student in so that he could receive immediate medical attention, but was prevented from doing so by the security guard who appeared to be manning the door that led to the emergency section.
The teacher, who is my colleague, related to me that he and the student – who was, during this time, crying, spitting and complaining of harsher pains – were made to wait outside the emergency section, in the sun. Each time the teacher tried to relate the circumstances which may have surrounded the lad’s pains, the guard became rude and discourteous.
The teacher then sought the administrator of the hospital, to whom a complaint was made about the matter. It was only then that a directive came that allowed the student medical attention by a doctor, who immediately admitted the child to surgery. It was later revealed that the student had appendicitis.
Now, so much is wrong with the picture I have painted. Firstly, the guard does not have what it takes to act as a buffer with the public. Secondly, I am a bit confused about the guards’ portfolio. Are they door agents or do they protect the hospital grounds as security personnel? The guard service has much to answer there.
Thirdly, what system has the hospital put in place to handle emergencies that come in? Shouldn’t there be a nurse who checks the persons who may require immediate assistance, like this schoolchild?
You hear so many pathetic stories every day. There ought to be an independent body that handles complaints from the general public about the public health system, especially that which relates to the ‘spanking- new’ New Amsterdam Hospital. I’d welcome this.
But if the worst had happened, ie, that the student’s appendix had burst while he was waiting outside for more than an hour, then who would have been at fault?
Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Mr Leslie Cadogan, CEO of the New Amsterdam Hospital for any comment he might wish to make.
