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Ian Quinton continued feeling disturbed days after being discharged from Constantiaberg Mediclinic in Plumstead, owing to his experiences there during his month-long stay until mid-February, particularly with the nursing staff and night-shift practices.
He was admitted in mid-January after suffering a stroke that left him immobile for most of this period. Left at the mercy of the nursing staff, who were tasked with bathing him, Quinton told People’s Postof his “extremely vulnerable experience”.
He said he would be bathed twice daily by three attending nurses at a time.
“So, you know, I was completely naked feeling totally exposed and vulnerable. The nurses would then make derogatory comments and jokes about my naked body, and said I had the body of a ‘15-year-old boy’.
“They would also sing very loudly while neglecting to handle my neck with care.”
Quinton remembered one particular instance while being bathed when it felt as if the nurse was trying to push his head down. “I asked the nurse why she was doing that, and she said, ‘so you won’t see our faces.’”
He also questioned the need for the frequency of two baths a day, as it was a dreadful and awkward daily task. Quinton said he was told by a male nurse that patients were to be bathed only once a day.
“The baths changed to once a day, which gave me a lot of relief.”
He said the night shifts were another concerning element of his hospital stay. “In the evenings, after most day-shift staff had gone home, a ruckus could be heard in the halls and what sounded like complete disorder.”
One night, he added, he woke up choking. “Despite my best efforts to call the night-shift staff nobody responded to my cries as I struggled to breathe.”
Now on the mend in the comfort of his own home, Quinton said: “I am fine now, despite some lingering feelings of disgust and humiliation.
“I thought about leaving the matter altogether, but I just keep thinking of the other patients who remain. And I keep worrying about the kind of care they currently receive.”
The hospital group swiftly responded with a statement relating to its former patient’s stay and complaints, on Tuesday 5 March.
Mediclinic South Africa confirmed “we have launched an investigation into the complaint and regard this matter in a serious light.”
However, at the time of their response, the patient had not raised any concerns directly with the hospital.
“Senior management is now engaging directly with the patient and will meet with him and his family to address any concerns. Once we have completed our investigation we will share these findings with the patient and any remedial actions will be taken, as may be necessary.”
Mediclinic continued that, should any patient have a concern regarding their admission, they are encouraged to contact the hospital manager directly, “to address any issues and afford us the opportunity to resolve the matter whilst admitted.
“Mediclinic remains committed to delivering the best possible care, and to engage with our community on any areas of concern.”
In a follow-up conversation with Quinton, he confirmed that the hospital contacted him and said a meeting is to be held in March to continue dealing with the matter.
