Netcare
Reviews and Complaints

I'm such a pissed off patient! Cardiac ward Room 3 bed 2, Mrs Williams for Dr van Der Walt. This lady had a visitor who was there for hours and hours while we were clearly told visitors are not allowed. How was she allowed to have a visitor? Is it the race, better medical aid or she is better than me? I would understand if this girl came to drop off something off which I'll find it quite hard to understand, if I have a drop off I go downstairs or security brings it to the ward. Trust me I understand there is covid so visitors are not allowed but does it exclude certain individuals? Please make me understand

Olivedale Hospital

I need a refund, since last year 15th June 2020 I have been billed on my medical aid for someone else with the same surname as me for dialysis that I am not under.

The only reason I found out is that I have changed medical aid and the payment that was supposed to go off in August returned unpaid and I am in arrears. The shock of my life.

kindly advise how best we can work on a refund because this is just crazy.

Kindly get someone to look into this matter urgently.

I am currently a patient at netcare milpark. Firstly would like to thank and give credit to all the excellent work the doctors in the hospital are doing. How ever the quality of care here is below standard. The patient s are not well taken care off. the hygiene in the wards is something I else. Patients sometimes go day without bathing and no linen changed. The nurse's will tell you that the are no gowns 1 can were the same thing for more than 3 days. The TVs are faulty when reported you are told the equipment is old. If 1 is in serious pain you only offered pain killers no investigation into what causes the pain. really expected more from such a big institution.

Herewith a reminder to NETCARE and their leadership:

BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL No 7070 Volume 313: Page 1448, 7 December 1996.
Introduction
The judgment by the war crimes tribunal at Nuremberg laid down 10 standards to which physicians must conform when carrying out experiments on human subjects in a new code that is now accepted worldwide.
This judgment established a new standard of ethical medical behaviour for the post World War II human rights era. Amongst other requirements, this document enunciates the requirement of voluntary informed consent of the human subject. The principle of voluntary informed consent protects the right of the individual to control his own body.
This code also recognizes that the risk must be weighed against the expected benefit, and that unnecessary pain and suffering must be avoided.
This code recognizes that doctors should avoid actions that injure human patients.
The principles established by this code for medical practice now have been extended into general codes of medical ethics.
The Nuremberg Code (1947)
Permissible Medical Experiments
The great weight of the evidence before us to effect that certain types of medical experiments on human beings, when kept within reasonably well-defined bounds, conform to the ethics of the medical profession generally. The protagonists of the practice of human experimentation justify their views on the basis that such experiments yield results for the good of society that are unprocurable by other methods or means of study. All agree, however, that certain basic principles must be observed in order to satisfy moral, ethical and legal concepts:
1. The voluntary consent of the human subject is absolutely essential. This means that the person involved should have legal capacity to give consent; should be so situated as to be able to exercise free power of choice, without the intervention of any element of force, fraud, deceit, duress, overreaching, or other ulterior form of constraint or coercion; and should have sufficient knowledge and comprehension of the elements of the subject matter involved as to enable him to make an understanding and enlightened decision. This latter element requires that before the acceptance of an affirmative decision by the experimental subject there should be made known to him the nature, duration, and purpose of the experiment; the method and means by which it is to be conducted; all inconveniences and hazards reasonably to be expected; and the effects upon his health or person which may possibly come from his participation in the experiment.
The duty and responsibility for ascertaining the quality of the consent rests upon each individual who initiates, directs, or engages in the experiment. It is

a personal duty and responsibility which may not be delegated to another with impunity.
2. The experiment should be such as to yield fruitful results for the good of society, unprocurable by other methods or means of study, and not random and unnecessary in nature.
3. Theexperimentshouldbesodesignedandbasedontheresultsofanimal experimentation and a knowledge of the natural history of the disease or other problem under study that the anticipated results justify the performance of the experiment.
4. The experiment should be so conducted as to avoid all unnecessary physical and mental suffering and injury.
5. No experiment should be conducted where there is an a priori reason to believe that death or disabling injury will occur; except, perhaps, in those experiments where the experimental physicians also serve as subjects.
6. The degree of risk to be taken should never exceed that determined by the humanitarian importance of the problem to be solved by the experiment.
7. Proper preparations should be made and adequate facilities provided to protect the experimental subject against even remote possibilities of injury, disability or death.
8. Theexperimentshouldbeconductedonlybyscientificallyqualifiedpersons. The highest degree of skill and care should be required through all stages of the experiment of those who conduct or engage in the experiment.
9. Duringthecourseoftheexperimentthehumansubjectshouldbeatlibertyto bring the experiment to an end if he has reached the physical or mental state where continuation of the experiment seems to him to be impossible.
10.During the course of the experiment the scientist in charge must be prepared to terminate the experiment at any stage, if he has probable cause to believe, in the exercise of the good faith, superior skill and careful judgment required of him, that a continuation of the experiment is likely to result in injury, disability, or death to the experimental subject.
For more information see Nuremberg Doctor's Trial, BMJ 1996;313(7070):1445-75.

Absolutely shocked to phone the ICU my father were in for an update just to find out he passed away 9 hours ago. Non one contacted us. We heard the news from his Dr's receptionist as we could not get hold of anyone and ended up phoning her. No one contacted us to go say our final goodbye, no ons showed any respect. The only thing they demanded on was get a company to fetch his body, that was their words when we spoke to them. Absolutely disgusting. The customer service we received were shocking absolutely shocking. Considering you have a medical aid and pay for a service, Netcare Union Hospital in Alberton did not provide any. The staff needs training in how to deal with families and have some respect.

Yesterday 01.06.2021, I took my wife to her pickup point in Kuilsriver where I became sick and I rushed myself to Netcare: Kuilsriver Hospital - I was directed to the Trauma Unit at the back, parked in one of the Bays and rushed inside for assistance - the time was 06:15(still dark) but there were Security guards outside.

I was under a drip for +- 3hrs then the Dr discharged me. When I arrived at the parking lot my car was clapped (apparently I parked in reserved).

Turned back to the security(I was weak), I informed him what had happened, he directed me to the help desh where I was told I need to pay R200, I told the ladies I didn't have money and they called a manage(old white woman).

I have never seen such an arrogant and self centered woman! Even after I have portrait the details of how I landed at the hospital - the time, no phone, no wallet etc. She told me in my face that it was not her problem, I need to find a way to get home!
At this stage I was berserk, went back to the car and I noticed that the clamp wasn't locked, I tried pulling it out with the last energy I had bending it in the process, I was stopped by the security guard, the security manager was called - I explained to him what had happened and he informed me that he doesn't have authority to unclamp my vehicle we need to speak to the manager, told him I've done that.

We went back to the hospital were he made a call to someone, we also went to other offices for assistance - everyone just wanted me to pay!

Its our great disappointment to attend our daily treatment for dialysis in Pelonomi Renal Unit, due to the fact that we are not properly served because of machines that are not properly working. We have to skip our daily routine because of machines that are disfactional and only five of them are working, sometimes we are getting connected late because those machines are not ready intime.
Its a continuous problem that is never been resolved. Today Friday 23 July I was supposed to be in second shift for treatment, but due to the fact that machines are not working and broken. I should go on Saturday for my treatment. Its inconvenient for me and unacceptable to me.
I'm really considering my options for treatment and unit that will be best for me. Because Pelonomi Renal Unit Management are not considerate to us patients.
Our lives matters to us and we need to go for best Unit for treatment and others have already left the unit because being unsatisfactory.
We hope this machines problems will be resolved soon!
But if can't be resolved we would not hesitate to change the unit.

Your immediate attention to this matter is greatly appreciated!
Best Regards
Tamme Morake
Pelonomi Renal Unit Patient

Bloemfontein Netcare, Pelonomi. Renal unit. It's been a while since we compliant about food we're receiving during our daily dialysis. But we haven't received feedback. Even patients start leaving unit because of this factor. If you can look at previous complaints its all about meals. Now recently we are receiving 100ml of juice and we used to fet 200ml.Without any consultation its been charged. That juice its not even enough to eat this 2 slices and furnish. But we're aware that because of being black in renal care, your complaints will never be considered and this management think we are just threatening to leave this unit, but we will never go ahead. Its our last resort if this can't be resolved.

I got an injury on duty on the 1st of July 2021 i was admitted at Unitas centurion then the Dr came to check on me and said there's nothing broken and they said I must bring my ID within 3days which i understood then when i went to fetch medication they told me they can't hand it to me because the copy of my ID was not clear, ohk then on the 2nd of July i went back to submit the satified ID copy then the guy asked me if I'm still feeling pains the i said yes. Then he told me there's no sick note which i wonder how. Then he said i will the sister again I waited for more than 3 hours then when the Dr came he said he can't help me before I drink my medication of which i have said that I did not receive my medication, then he said he gonna re write me a prescription, so now i still have to wait more hours for medication. Now they telling me that the Dr attended another patient. Which makes sense that we not really important to them and i wonder if they know how to use the BATHO PELE PRINCIPLES

The inhumane and completely unprofessional treatment I received at Netcare Garden City is way to long to type on this page.
I waited 13 hours to be seen on my first visit.
On my second visit a week later, the doctor who attended to me was absolutely amazing.
The 3rd doctor who saw me a week later didn't even bother to ask me what was wrong. The fourth doctor a week later actually shouted at me for coming to the hospital. And told me that I should live with the pain.
I was in an accident 4 weeks earlier and was rear ended by a truck (horse and trailers)
I am extremely upset and shocked at the level of service. Private Hospital?
Not even on your best day!

My daughter was born on 25 may 2020 via c~ section nursing staff in the maternity ward were complaining about covid and staff shortages while assisting me after birth with each other while in the room assisting me where as this was a scary time for me as well not having the support of my family or husband due to non visit because of covid. I had a wonderfull experience with my first daughter at this same hospital just two years before. This time I had to get up after my surgery alone I was told by the nurse that when she gets back I should be sitting on the chair she has put next to my bed. Staff were sarcastic and would gossip about patients some would let me be in my room without the mask and when the shift changes new staff would rudely tell me to put my mask on... But they would give my medication and take it out of the packaging with no gloves to drink. I was even mistaken for another mother and they wanted to see if my breast milk is ready for the baby but mine was still in my belly! Thats not the worst after her birth we had to stay in the nicu due to her sugar that would drop due to my breast milk not being active I asked to give my baby formula and I was told the doctor would not approve as breast is best as a mother I should be allowed to make that decision myself so we had to stay for 3 days untill my milk was producing enough for my baby. When moved to the moms quarters I had to share a room with another mom and I had to use the breast pump to help my breastmilk produce infront of her we had to share the same pump and just swap shields... The last night of our stay a boy died in the nicu the fathers screams still haunts me but atleast the we were going home the next day. Treated different than the maternity ward were your food is brought in foam cups and take away packaging even plastic utensills on the 13th of april my baby was admitted again we were going to nicu again I suffer from depression I stopped my medication due to being pregnant after the first nicu stay I started taking my medication again as I was worried about my baby and being treated poorly you feels as though you are not in a position to take care of your baby while being there as you should do as the nurses tell you and talked to as if I were a child yes I am a young mother of 25 but that does not make me dumb. When we arrived on the 13th I advised the nursing staff that I suffer from depression and being back is emotional and brings me bad memories I even told them about the boy that had died. I struggled to stop crying and their response was well thats just how hospitals work not trying to accomodate me at all when asked when we would be leaving they were again sarcastic and even laughed at me for getting ready to leave after the doctor informed my husband that we could go home after he sees us. He was not allowed to visit but I forgot my charger and when he went back to fetch it later that night he could even walk to the room I was staying in to get the charger? If I could have seen him during my stay it would have made a huge difference to my depression. Please be more mindfull of the parents mental conditions while treating patients this is not okay at all. I have been taking care of my baby very well after her birth there is no need to treat me as child I slept with her in her cot during the second stay as I know she would not be able to sleep without me and she was not allowed to sleep with me in bed. If staff would make small conversation just to get your mind of everything that was going on it would have been nice but trying to have a coversation ended quickly. I did not want to complain and have been postponing this but please take this complaint into consideration. Cuyler hospitaluitenhage.

My husband was in Millpark hospital for 4 months in icu, he was admitted on18 December 2020 and was transferred to the rehab facility on 14 April 2021. I left him a baf with his clothes in for when it was needed. The clothes he came with the say he was admitted was also stolen along with his mirells shoes that was expensive. So in the bag was the following, new shirt, jeans and mirells tekkies was R1700 that is what he came in with to hospital, in the bag was 4 T-shirts, 3 underpants, 2 short sleeve sleeping pants, slippers and 2 towels all gone. I want it to be replaced as to replace the stolen items i pay a lot of money on medical aid for a good private hospital care then they steel your stuff. There was someone with him in his room the entire time, so how can his stuff be stolen out of his bag in icu. I please want a answer regarding this matter, as i wont leave this.

On 8-4-2021 a patient visited the Hospital in Richards Bay after hours after being bitten by a small dog on the finger. He told the staff the dog was vaccinated and he had the certificates, and they told him there was no need for stiches but they will give him an injection. The cleaned and bandaged the wound and after the injections send him home.

Yesterday, het received a bill for R14, 999.80 for Rabies Vaccine injections and 2x Equirab 100IU 5Ml injections @ R14, 352. The patient is on a hospital plan, so obviously does the Medical Aid not cover these costs, and he was never informed of the cost of the treatment, even though he told them the dog was vaccinated.

A copy of the detailed bill is available. Patient Number is [protected] and document number [protected]

The patient should not be charged when he is clearly overtreated and been given such expensive injections without discussing with the patient, who advised them the dog was vaccinated and they were worried about infection or possibly stiches

My mother in law were/are being treated for Covid related complications and has been at Netcare Pretoria East for over 7 weeks. The sister and the social worker are giving total conflicting feedback wrt my mothers condition with absolutely no interest in the patient at all as the social worker's reply to our request for an update on our mothers condition is 'She is doing the same as yesterday' but cant tell us how that was! We have not heard from the Dr treating her in days and if you ask for him to contact you please as her condition is critical they do not seem to bother to contact you. This after we have lost our father in law at the same hospital 4 weeks ago. So while we are grieving about the loss of our father and grandfather and have to endure the stress and worry about our mother who's condition just keeps getting worse and worse it feels like the people treating her cant even give a correct update on her status leaving us feeling like they dont know because they are not interested in the patient. As for our assigned social worker, it seems she is only there for the salary. If visiting hours were allowed we could have seen for ourselves but now you have to rely on an uninterested appointed social worker with a total lack of compassion for our concern and heartbreak. I for one will most probably think twice before utilising Pretoria East hospital again and we travelled from Jhb to be there as they were our chosen hospital! How I regret that decision now!

 went in for a procedure today 27 February.
The bad service and lack of care from some of the Nurses is concerning. I understand that they are busy and can wait hand and foot on everyone however from my experience today it was the simple reuqest which was ignore. After coming out of theatre was quite nauseas and a nurse offered meds for the nausea which I agreed to but she never gave any. I also asked for something for the pain and was also ignore. I was discharged at around 1:30 and was not given any lunch. The nurse had in fact lied to the Sister in charge saying that I ate. I then had to stand over an hour in the queue at the pharmacy downstairs for my meds and almost fainted and broke down in tears because they don't care that patients have to wait this ridiculous amount of time after coming out of theatre.

Came to casualty at night complaining of severe epigastric pain. Was triaged told to open a file which I did then was put in a cubicle. Attended to by Dr Sedebe who introduced himself and asked me what my problem was and I explained to him, I had a problem with a peptic ulcer. Told him what meds I had taken which he repeatedly prescribed the same meds but as iv. Told him about having difficult veins but said they will try I gave them the benefit of the doubt so I had different nurses [censored] me like a pin cushion 6times ND no vein was found. After a hr of suffering he told me I had to go home as there was nothing more he could do for me since I was allergic to tramal which is apparently his preferred imi medication to give to her, he couldn't give me anything else. I said ok so I should just go back home in pain like this? He just looked at me as if I was crazy. While walking out because of the pain I met the sister on call a white lady who looked at me and told me that I can go to mulbarton for pain meds. How can I drive there in pain. On top of that he wanted me to sign a rht form making me look stupid like I refused treatment which I didn't. If it was a person of another race not black I guess they would have been given pain injection quicker not to wait over 2hrs and being traumatized unnecessary with needles. I really don't understand what happened to humanity. Do u think I'm crazy to leave my warm bed to come to union if I wasn't in pain. On top that I will get a bill to say I owe them when they didn't do nothing for me. I await to see that bill. They will see me. Pity cos there are some friendly nurses to name a few hlengiwe hlabisa. Sr Lucille. Very helpful thank you for all your help. I pity the patients that are to b handled by the incompetent dr sedebe who has no compassion and care. I will next time go to another hospital for treatment regardless. Not forgetting the racist dr kok that never treats all her patients the same but wants money at the end of the day

To whom it may concern
 I went into the maternity ward at approximately 04:00am on the morning of the 16th january 2021 due to my water breaking and me being in labour. This being my first baby, the experience being foreign was made even worse by the nursing staff and mid-wife. I was asked to get onto a bed, no information was given to me regarding the procedures, etc. The nurse asked what time the pain started and when my water broker and then told me she was going to do an internal exam, directly after which she stuck her fingers into me with long, sharp shaped nails, which I told her hurt me, but she didn't seem bothered and instead asked me not to scream. She then attempted to put in a drip, I say attempted, due to the fact that she poked into my tissue instead of vein, this was extremely painful, without taking my pain into account, she then pulled out the needle and called the mid-wife, (I think she was the mid-wife), as mentioned nothing was explained. This lady then put in the drip. I was not advised that this is where they were going to deliver my baby, in the ward. The nurse says I must push when I feel like it! And the doctor will be there soon…. I asked where my husband was as they asked him to stand outside and they will call him, but this had not happened still, the nurse said they will call him just now…. No idea how long that meant… my husband was eventually let in, the doctor arrived, I am not entirely sure of the time, my baby was born at around 05:30am, again, nothing was explained, my husband was then ask to go get the covid test done, he told the nurse that he had left babies bottle and formular in the room, if they could please feed her,   I phoned my husband and asked that he come back and bring baby to me, as I could hear her crying for a really long time, he found baby left "alone" in a room down the hall from me, not in the nursery but in a room alone. It was now 08:30am, my baby was still not fed. I called a nurse and asked if they could get me babies formular to feed her, she gave me a dirty, unhygienic looking bottle with formular and said I can feed baby that formular as it is already made. I was "eventually" taken to the room around 11:30am, again given no information about anything. The nurses come when you ring the bell, but then your request is ignored until you ask 3 or 4 times. The nurses are rude in their manner of speaking, that is when they do respond. The doctor discharged baby and I on the morning of the 17th at around 10am, we left the hospital at 16:00pm, why so late? Because the nurse said she was hungry, she would eat and be back in an hour to bath baby before we left, turns out her definition of an hour is actually 2 and a half hours, together with us waiting for the results from the jaundice test. This is after we were advised that the results would be received in approx. 60minutes. I eventually asked the nurse to call the lab, and she replied to say that's why she was sitting and waiting by the phone for the lab to call!, she was waiting for 3 to 4 hours for the lab to call, she never thought to call them until I asked, after she spoke to the lab, we still has to wait a further hour and and half, before we could leave, only to find out, I was actually admitted and I was never asked to sign anything, I was then asked to sign when I was leaving.  I had no intention on laying a complaint until today the 01st february when I called the mother and baby clinic at pinehaven to make an appointment for my babies hearing test. I spoke to lessie who asked me why I was not called to make an appointment for babies bcg & polio vaccinations, a ridiculous question that I could not answer. I was never advised that babies vaccinations were not done and never thought to ask as my husband mentioned that baby was injected. Due to the fact that nothing was explained and the paediatrician asked that we see her when baby is 6 weeks, and seeing that this is our first baby, we assumed that she was given the vaccines, had I not called in, we would never have known this was not done. This is extremely concerning. when I paid the r650 admission fee, I was advised that there would be a walk thought the maternity ward and I would be given all the necessary information, I had been to the maternity ward 4 times prior to me giving birth and each time there was a different reason as to why the walk through could not be done, eventually the lady asked that I "just signed the mothers book" and she will talk me through everything, which wasn't done either. I was also given the passport and told that the r650 fee included assistance with birth registration which was not done, until I asked, I was not even given the forms. When I did get the forms, I was told that I need to go to home affairs with the forms, which means that the fee is being charged under false pretences on 2 counts.  then there is the issue of the paediatrician, dr mthombeni whom I saw for all but maybe a maximum of 2minutes on the 16th and 4 minutes on the 17th, she said baby was perfectly fine. When I got home and gave baby a bath for the first time, I noticed quite a big lump on babies head, this was never mentioned by the paediatrician, no idea if she even checked baby or if she knows about this lump on her head, she clearly didn't and doesn't know that baby was discharged without being given the vaccines, the paediatrician, dr mthombeni asked that we come back in 6 weeks!, without baby being vaccinated! My medical aid was billed for both days by dr mthombeni, I would like to know what the bill is for? As I have no evidence or confirmation of any checks being done. are the vaccinations not apart of the checks that the paediatrician is required to confirm as being done or scheduled to be done? I am extremely disappointed and partially traumatised by the treatment received by the staff at pinehaven hospital pre and post child birth. I wouldn't ever recommend pinehaven hospital to anyone, if anything I promote that people stay away from this hospital. The staff are very clearly not passionate about the occupations they have chosen and there is also clearly no form of structure or procedures in place. regardspauline sewparsad

Terrible. Had to visit here while on holiday. We paid way above what the usuall medical aid rate even though we had medical aid, we needed to pay cash. The issue is though that they still charged our medical aid and then also notified us that we overpaid and that we required a R300 refund. To get this refund I have had to jump through hurdles, complete the same form numerous times, send proof of bank docs, then stamped bank statements. And still no refund, what's next ? a colonoscopy just to check if we are actually who we say we are. Shame on you Netcare, you only care about money, nothing else, and then steal our money too ? I have spent more time on emails and complaints with you than what the R300 is worth.
https://goo.gl/maps/4K8TwQ9jPUUtaRVS6

What utter horrible healthcare professionals work at Netcare Linksfield Ward C? My friend was admitted to Linksfield on the 18th of November 2020 to have a Hydrocele removed. On arrival there was only one person to help with admittance. This was only the beginning of what has turned out to be the worst experience in any hospital we have ever been in.

After he had returned from theater, there was no water for him, no pain meds and it took him over 2 hours to get his personal belongings to be returned to him. He was not given any dinner. He go so upset that no one had even come to find out how he is that he ripped his drip out and wanted to discharge himself.

They didn't even come and mop up the blood from removing his drip. He went to bed with no dinner, no water and two schedule 2 pain pill as his recommended pills were not there. He also had to sleep with no blanket as none was provided. He was directly under the aircon.

This morning the pain pills still had not arrived and he was given normal schedule 2 pills again, and he was only given coffee and no glass to drink his water from. When asked for a glass for the water, he was given a dirty mug from which to drink. And by dirty, there was still coffee stains on the side of the cup.

Ward C nurses don't give a damn about their patients. Is that really how Netcare want their patients to be handled? This is a private hospital and patients pay an arm and a leg to be there and this is how they are treated.

I will be posting this article on all social media platforms so patients know not to be treated at Netcare Linksfield hospital.

NICU Clinton Hospital Alberton.

Good day to whom it may concern.

I am complaining about the visiting hours that have been established today. My baby is now 12weeks and a premie of 26weeks. I am not happy about this visiting hours cause me as a parent and many other parents whose babies are also in the NICU are traveling far to be with our babies, some parents travel from Freestate ect and just to be 10min with their babies is unexceptable and also that fact now that we can't hold them. The babies needs their parents and 10min is just not fine cause we as mothers also needs to breastfeed our babies aswell and to do it in 10minutes is just not right. I am also worried that they will miss treated my babie as I am putting in a complaint now. I want a full explanation why it is like this now (Full reason) and want an answer in 24hrs please. My email adress [protected]@gmail.com