Life Brenthurst Clinic - Johannesburg

My mother was kept alive at all cost and despite a hopeless prognosis until we got lawyers in to force a move to Hospice where she was finally allowed to die with dignity, pain free. Despite signed DNR's and repeated requests to interface with Hospice, the Physician and staff in the ICU maintained and escalated treatment (such as giving her Adrenalin) The ICU was not aseptic, no enforcement of people removing jewelry, watches, spraying their hands and arms, no gloves or protective plastic garments for visitors. Nurses would remove gloves and then remember they had to do something and not put on a new pair. The treating Physician was arrogant and was only focussed on keeping the patient alive at all costs (despite there being no hope). The patient had a fall and severe subdural requiring brain surgery. She had a severely (and painfully) displaced hip retiring surgery, she had a necrotic bowel, requiring - neither of which could be done because of her being so weak. She couldn't be given effective pain management because she was so weak. She was wracked with spasms of pain and tied down to the bed as she kept wanting to revive the tracheostomy pipes. The Physician had a god complex, was arrogant and devoid of compassion - both to the patient and the family. He wanted my mom to go into rehab at Kensington, despite the fact it was far too far away for friends and family, because he would retain control over the patient. We had to insist on Auckland Park and they had one look at my mom and confirmed our suspicions that she was viable for rehab. The Physician refused to sign the necessary documents to allow a hospice doctor to make an evaluation. We had to get lawyers involved to get this third opinion. Finally my mother was moved in Hospice Houghton where she was given morphine and could finally be comfortable, at peace and within 24 hours she passed away, finally at peace!

On 31 Oct 2015 to 4 Nov 2015 my pregnant wife was hospitalised and only later in 2016 we learnt that the hospital bill of R6827. 80 was not paid by Discovery Medical Aid. 


We queried this with Discovery and they confirmed that the hospital stay authorisation was never updated.  They later requested a motivational letter to be sent through, which they received in 22 June 2016 and later requested clinical notes to be sent through. 


On 12 Aug 2016 a request was sent by Discovery requesting the clinical records and I also called the hospital on the same day (spoke to Leilane the case manager) to make sure they send through the information and she assured me this will be done immediately.   On 23 Aug 2016 I then called the hospital again and  I spoke to Dr Tebogo (hospital manager) as the information had still not been sent through to Discovery.   He assured me that he will do the necessary follow-up and make sure that I get feedback,  however no-one called me back.


Today on 12 Sept 2016 I called the hospital again to get the information (spoke to Dr Tebogo) and I still got the same response from him as the last time. In the interim Discovery (Mandi - call centre manager) was in contact with Corlette who promised to send through the information by COB,  however nothing was done.


I am utterly disgusted that I have been unable to get this matter resolved within a reasonable time frame and that the hospital manager as well as the case managers are equally incompetent in getting this matter resolved.