Broken foot because of negligence

First I share the email I send directly to the Hazeldean day clinic the Friday day after my procedure. Good morning,

I hope to find you well. I was happy with all over service but I was not happy in treatment after I came back from the theatre.

I was the last patient going in. All the patients were drowsy and sleepy when they got back, was assisted to settle in, left to rest and then they received their food and were assisted to the bathroom with 2 assistants.

I came back to ward wide awake. As she passed me by a nurse asked if I want my food, and rep**** yes, and received and ate. The whole section was empty, the last patient left about 5 minutes after I came in.

I asked the sister that admitted me, if I can walk to the bathroom, and she said yes. And ask because everybody else got assistance and she said no, and I ask because every else got assistance and her answer was but they were drowsy and sleepy.

I stood up but my left could not hold my weight. I threw my weigh back on my bed but hurt my left foot very badly as it is completely blue this morning, in the the ankle at the side of my foot. Ok called the nurse reported it, she look at my foot ignored it.

I asked her if I can leave and she said as soon as you can arrange transportation you can leave. I called my husband, said to him can and fetch me but with a wheelchair because my legs are not working properly and I hurt my foot.

He came and they let me go.

The theatre personnal - excellent The ward personnal average but with me very poorly. My back feels great, the operation went well, but now I can barely walk because of an injury I received in your hospital, because I was the last patient and they just wished me to leave.

Just a final word. We can get all information about who was working in my ward and when.

The manager Lezel Hendriks called me and very friendly ask me what happened and I explained as per email.

Her response she talk to the people responsible and get back Friday or Monday.

She got back to me on Monday, says that the nurse that was responsible was a contractor, and she cannot remember anything. I told her that contractors are still their responsibility. She hinted that I must go for an X-ray and I asked as whose cost. This was not my fault,

Then later she calls me and says I can go for a X-ray at their cost. I went to Intercare Castle gate, also telling that my GP is there.

The X-ray results: Comminuted fracture for the distal diaphysis of the fifth metatarsal with minimal displacement and favorable alignment.

This was send while I was there at Radiology to Lezel and to the doctor who did my procedure. This is 5 days after the incident.

No response so I responded with this email. To be absolutely honest I don't know how you people work. You sent me for X-rays, the foot is broken the easiest thing would have been to just tell me to go to Dr. Paul quickly let him just check what is needed, it is a clean break. But no communication from either side. It is and remains a risk because I am sitting with a broken foot. This was not Dr. Gurnell's responsibility. It is the Intercare Hazeldean staff who made it dry. Tomorrow is a week. A week that I am walking on a broken foot. I have only been decent, addressing things with the right people, directly by email. But I am starting to weigh my options. This sets me back 8 weeks in terms of work, which I cannot function optimally. It has been a huge frustration, painful and absolutely unnecessary. I am also not taking this up with Dr. Gurnell, once again he did his job, with confidence that you will do the same. He is a surgeon, not a not a nurse.

And that I was politely dismissed by this email. Dear Mrs Botha

Thank you again for bringing the following to our attention on Friday and for our telephone conversation. We take all feedback regarding patient safety and care extremely seriously, and value the input of our patients in order to continuously improve our service.

We are truly sorry to hear of the inconvenience you are experiencing. We would like to assure you that we are currently conducting a thorough internal investigation into the alleged incident. This process includes consulting with all staff who were on duty and working in the area on that day in order to compile a clear and detailed timeline of events.

In the meantime, as a gesture of goodwill, we have arranged for an X-ray of your foot to be taken. These images and results are fully at your disposal, and you are welcome to use them if you are considering further medical follow-up or treatment by a medical practitioner of your choice.

We appreciate your patience while we complete this internal review.

Kind regards / Kind regards

Lézel Hendriks In conclusion, they accept responsibility, is willing to pay for X-ray but not for treatment. Warning to patients if you are the last patient in the ward, this is what you can expect. Dismissal, even though I asked 3 times if I do not need assistance. And according to them the broken foot is now my problem. Put me 6 weeks back, what about work driving etc. They take no responsibility. We trust them to treat us right. They do not.