I'm still in this post-operative stage where I have this gaping, open wound of about 7 inches high and about 2 inches across that needs cleaning and dressing daily - but I'm at home and going to work daily. However, I was officially discharged from hospital. I have to attend a clinic there every second Tuesday (the only day of the week for clinic). As I don't have medical aid, this is a State hospital, with the distinction of being a Training Hospital.
All very well, but what happens if one needs a doctor in between Clinic days? Well, I found out last week!
I suffered severe cramps during the night, vomiting, etc, so decided I'd better take the day off work (had to anyway - didn't sleep at all and was exhausted) and get to the hospital. When I arrived there in the late morning, the ward doctors were already in surgery and couldn't be seen. I was, however, informed that the surgeons who performed my operation had already moved on and there was a new team on duty. The intern informed me that I had actually been discharged, so I had to go to Casualties and register as an 'out-patient'.
That was midday. I patiently joined queue after queue in the 'procedures', until I eventually got to the section where one waits for a doctor on duty to see one. There were two doctors on duty - and scores of patients.
By 7:30pm that night, there was still a score of people ahead of me and no apparent movement. I realized that it would be 11:00pm or midnight before I got to see a doctor. The sister in charge confirmed that I was probably right. By that time, after not eating or drinking anything all day, my body had settled into silent, aching submission. I gave up and went home.
Medical Aid is expensive - but if you possibly can have it, trust me, it's worth having! (And this is one of the better State hospitals! They even have clean linen on the beds. At many State hospitals, they don't even have that - you have to take your own bedding!)
2 comments:
believe it or not but it seems that in hole the problem with state run hospitals is servre my father in law had a stroke so not having medical aid we took him to the local state hospital, after waiting for what seemed hours the looked at him then he was put into a ward where first of all a mental pacient was second the bed linen was discussting there was blood and god knows what else ,the way our state run hospitals are at this stage needs major repair.we as a nation should stand up and force a leaders to do something quickly, next year we are hosting the world up our nation will definitly be embrassed ,not only by the state of the state run hospitals but also by the rediculus fees charged by the doctors in the private run hospitals.moral of the story make sure you stay fit and healthy
For sure.
The risk of infection in some of these hospitals is extremely alarming. The quality of the nursing is also cause for serious concern.
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