News / Health
Hospital staff accused of negligence
15 Apr 2013 at 06:30hrs | Views
GWANDA Town residents are not happy with the treatment they receive when visiting Gwanda Provincial Hospital after working hours, accusing the staff of negligence.
Some of the concerned residents who spoke to Chronicle said most of the time when they go to the hospital for medical treatment after the hospital pharmacy has been closed, they are not given anything for treatment until the following day.
"I visited the hospital at about 7pm to have my child treated for a severe headache but the child could not be treated or given any painkiller since I was told that the pharmacy was closed. We only got a prescription written on his card and I was told to come the following day. If such treatment of patients continues at our hospital, there is no doubt we shall lose some lives. At some hospitals we understand there are always some emergency drugs to cater for patients after the pharmacy has been closed," said the concerned mother.
Another resident who was admitted recently at the hospital bleeding severely after a miscarriage said she was admitted at around lam but only received treatment at about 3pm the following day.
She accused the hospital staff of negligence.
"When I arrived at the hospital in die middle of the night, I was given no treatment except cotton wool. I then miscarried at about 8am and still no assistance was given to me until I went to the theatre at around 1 lam when I was examined by the doctor and received my first medication at 3pm," she said.
The residents said authorities responsible should look into the issue to improve service delivery at the hospital.
However, some residents alleged that there were some deals involving the misuse of hospital drugs by some hospital authorities.
"We understand that some emergency drugs meant to cater for the patients at night find their way out of the hospital under unclear circumstances. We call upon the Government to intervene," said another concerned resident.
Contacted for comment on Thursday, the Matabeleland South provincial medical director, Dr William Busumani, said he was not aware of any possible deals regarding emergency drugs.
"Before the pharmacy is closed, they leave a stock of drugs for emergencies. However, there are some drugs which we do not dispense at night. All hospitals have what we call a standard night stock," he said.
Dr Busumani said in the case of the woman who had a miscarriage, she was supposed to be monitored and checked every two hours.
He, however, promised to investigate the allegations being levelled against the hospital staff.
Some of the concerned residents who spoke to Chronicle said most of the time when they go to the hospital for medical treatment after the hospital pharmacy has been closed, they are not given anything for treatment until the following day.
"I visited the hospital at about 7pm to have my child treated for a severe headache but the child could not be treated or given any painkiller since I was told that the pharmacy was closed. We only got a prescription written on his card and I was told to come the following day. If such treatment of patients continues at our hospital, there is no doubt we shall lose some lives. At some hospitals we understand there are always some emergency drugs to cater for patients after the pharmacy has been closed," said the concerned mother.
Another resident who was admitted recently at the hospital bleeding severely after a miscarriage said she was admitted at around lam but only received treatment at about 3pm the following day.
She accused the hospital staff of negligence.
"When I arrived at the hospital in die middle of the night, I was given no treatment except cotton wool. I then miscarried at about 8am and still no assistance was given to me until I went to the theatre at around 1 lam when I was examined by the doctor and received my first medication at 3pm," she said.
The residents said authorities responsible should look into the issue to improve service delivery at the hospital.
However, some residents alleged that there were some deals involving the misuse of hospital drugs by some hospital authorities.
"We understand that some emergency drugs meant to cater for the patients at night find their way out of the hospital under unclear circumstances. We call upon the Government to intervene," said another concerned resident.
Contacted for comment on Thursday, the Matabeleland South provincial medical director, Dr William Busumani, said he was not aware of any possible deals regarding emergency drugs.
"Before the pharmacy is closed, they leave a stock of drugs for emergencies. However, there are some drugs which we do not dispense at night. All hospitals have what we call a standard night stock," he said.
Dr Busumani said in the case of the woman who had a miscarriage, she was supposed to be monitored and checked every two hours.
He, however, promised to investigate the allegations being levelled against the hospital staff.
Source - TC
