Westlake residents are complaining about poor service at a local municipal clinic after staff there allegedly refused to aid a pregnant homeless woman who was found in a pool of blood about 100 metres from the facility.
Fiorella Davids says she saw the woman lying on the pavement in Plover Close when she returned home from fetching her daughter at Westlake Primary School on Tuesday April 30.
“I went to her and asked what’s wrong. She was lying in a pool of blood already. I went to the clinic and asked if they could help her just around the corner. The two men sitting at reception said they can’t help me because it didn’t happen on their property,” said Ms Davids
Ms Davids received help instead at Westlake United Church Trust, where a neighbour told her there were nurses.
Louette Maccullum, a nursing sister at the trust, had put on her gloves and run with her to help, Ms Davids said.
Sister Maccullum said they had moved the woman out of the street to a property on Plover Close to give her some privacy while she helped her. An ambulance was called and the woman was taken to Victoria Hospital. A hospital source confirmed she miscarried.
Ms Davids described the incident in a post to the Westlake Ikasi Lam Facebook group, and several residents added their own complaints about the clinic.
“This clinic is of no use. Someone might have an emergency yet they won’t help. Why is there a clinic in Westlake when they can’t help our community? This is unacceptable,” said Jordan Christiano.
“I fully agree,” added Alice Gallant. “The clinic is of no use to the community. I was bitten by a dog, went to the clinic for assistance only to be told by the senior sister that the clinic was full and I had to wait my turn. Knowing the dog bite is an emergency, but she just ignored me.”
Nosipho Sitshongo said that the clinic would not help her when her brother had trouble breathing despite having oxygen supply.
Libongo Mbala complained that the men at reception had no manners.
Zaid Cassiem said: “It is like the staff do whatever they want and are constantly on tea breaks. It is bad management, and the community must suffer because of it.”
Laura Smith, a Westlake resident and a retired nurse after 18 years of service, said all nurses should abide by the nurses’ pledge of service to help their patients and respect them.
“You need to consider the health of the total patient. It must be their first consideration. The receptionist should have consulted the nurse, and if he did consult the nurse, then they did a poor job. They have let down all registered nurses. You go the extra mile for your patients.
“If we didn’t have Sister Louette in our midst, I don’t know what would happen. She goes the extra mile. When I phoned her last year to say there was a baby on its way that I had to deliver, she came through in the early hours of the morning to help me cut the umbilical cord.”
City spokesperson Luthando Tyhalibongo said the clinic’s services included screening and counselling for minor non-communicable diseases; prevention, investigation, treatment and support for communicable diseases; counselling, testing, diagnosis, treatment and support for HIV; child health services and maternal health; sexual reproductive health; youth and adolescent health services; and mental health screening, support and referral.
“In the event a patient doesn’t fall within these services, clients are stabilised and emergency medical services are requested to transport clients to the nearest secondary or tertiary hospital. Emergency medical services are also summoned for assistance when a patient is off premises but in desperate need of medical attention.
“City Health has investigated the matter and it was determined that ambulance services were summoned by the clinic staff,” Mr Tyhalibongo said.
There is a complaints box in the clinic’s waiting area, and complaints could also be made directly to the clinic manager either at the facility or by calling 021 814 1607 or 021 814 1602, he said.
