HUMANSDORP – A seriously ill patient from Jeffreys Bay has described a harrowing ordeal at Humansdorp Hospital in the Eastern Cape where she and other patients were allegedly left unattended for hours after medical staff fled from a violent, mentally ill patient.
Mieta Williams-Jan, who suffers from critically low blood levels requiring urgent treatment, was admitted to Humansdorp Hospital on 25 August, after being referred by Pellsrus Clinic in Jeffreys Bay.
What should have been routine medical care turned into a traumatic experience that has left her questioning patient safety protocols at the facility.
Williams-Jan said that the most serious incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday morning (26 August) when a mentally ill patient, who had been causing disturbances throughout Monday, allegedly violently attacked medical staff in the casualty ward.
“The mentally ill woman started beating the doctor, who was busy with my results. She then proceeded to badly damage the casualty ward,” said Williams-Jan.
“The doctors and nurses ran for safety, and we were left with no emergency staff.”
Williams-Jan said that patients remained unattended from approximately 03:40 until 06:00 when the first matron arrived.
During this time, she said that she and other patients were left vulnerable in the casualty ward with no medical supervision.
“I believe that to feel safe as a patient is not too much to ask for,” said Williams-Jan.
She alleges that hospital management later explained to patients that this was not an isolated incident.
“A person from the management team came and explained that it was not the first, second, or third time emergency staff were attacked, and it was reported to management. This is why the staff had had enough,” said Williams-Jan.
She said that her plea is for the hospital to install a boom gate to control access to the hospital.
While there are security guards outside, Williams-Jan said that the hospital should also have security inside the hospital building who are able to deal with mentally ill patients.
“While at the hospital, I have experienced incidents where mentally ill patients, who are known to the hospital staff and management, take food while the hospital staff are not looking,” said Williams-Jan.
Her ordeal was further complicated when she returned to Humansdorp Hospital from Port Elizabeth Provincial Hospital in Gqeberha on Wednesday afternoon at about 16:30 following a bone marrow procedure, only to discover her medical file was missing.
“I arrived here around 16:30, still in pain, sitting in a chair with no clear direction,” said Williams-Jan.
“I feel my rights as a patient were violated.”
Williams-Jan said that she waited until 22:35 before her file was located, thanks to a nurse from the surgical ward who knew her case.
Despite the traumatic experience, she praised the dedication of the medical team who assisted her when she first arrived on 25 August and those who prioritised the health of their patients.
“Monday morning, when I was referred, on arrival, I was attended to by the best nurses and doctors. I don’t have any complaints about my experience with them. My health and the health of the other patients were prioritised,” said Williams-Jan.
The Eastern Cape Department of Health was approached for comment on 3 September regarding the safety concerns and alleged incidents at Humansdorp Hospital, but no response was received by the time of publication.
