To the administrator Steve Biko Hospital. 28 Feb 2023
Hi, I totally lost it at the hospital on the 27th of February. I went through the whole procedure of going through the normal eye test, blood pressure, sugar, and all the rest.
I spoke to Dr Earl who saw me on a previous occasion, he had about 10 student doctors with him and wanted to show them what a radial keratectomy (RK) looked like and spoke about the missing lens in my right eye. They then could not find my file. Told me to wait in the passage till they received my file. (Keep in mind that I was already at the hospital from 06:30 and it was now 11:45)
Eventually, they called my name, informed me that they still could not find my file, and tried to book an appointment for the 5th of July. Which I found unacceptable, after voicing my concern, and explaining that I was already booked for surgery on the 21 and 22 February. Came in for admittance on the 21st and after going through the whole procedure again and without any explanation told to come back on Monday the 27th of February.
Now I find out that the surgery of the 22nd was cancelled due to a “bug” in the OR and, that I wrongfully ended up in the que for retina procedures every time because the reception keeps writing on my hospital card Retina instead of lens detachment.
By now I was really getting upset and said to the doctor that they must stop lying to me, which she took as a personal attack on her, and proceeded to tell everyone that I called her a liar, instead of defusing the situation, they are now adding fuel to the fire. She referred me to the doctor in the next cubicle who told her to make the appointment for the 5th of July.
Explaining the situation to this doctor she told me that they were fully booked until June/July for retina operations, I again told her, that there was nothing wrong with my retina. Once again in the chair, checked the eye and told me the best she can do is to make an appointment for the 15th of May for a consultation with another surgeon from one of the other provincial hospitals in the area, and they will tell me when they can do the operation.
As you can imagine by now, I was boiling.
Please make me understand, why I should fall into the back of the que just because there was a “bug” in the OR?
I am 67 years old; I am a pencil artist who does fine artwork (detailed) and for the past 7 months I could not follow my passion because I cannot see properly.
I humbly apologise for my outburst. Please do something about it and do not let it slide...
Yours faithfully,
Roelf Dreyer
065 801 2811
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