Worst hospital experience.

I am deeply disappointed with the care my mother received at Eugene Marais Hospital.

My mother was admitted with a blood clot and a broken hip. After undergoing hip replacement surgery, she was due to be transferred to a step-down facility. On the day she was leaving, a nurse told her she would be coming back because she would get an infection. My sister and I were shocked by this comment at the time.

Sadly, that prediction became reality. My mother was readmitted to the hospital due to infection, and over the following months she continued to suffer from repeated infections as well as severe bed sores. She spent more than five months in the hospital.

During this time, communication with the family was extremely difficult. At one point, my mother was removed from ICU without our family being properly informed about the seriousness of her condition or the decisions being made regarding her care.

My mother sadly passed away on 10 February 2026.

Our family feels that the hospital failed to adequately protect her from hospital-acquired infections and complications during her stay. We are also deeply concerned about the lack of communication with the family regarding important medical decisions.

I believe Life Healthcare should carefully review the care standards and oversight at Eugene Marais Hospital, particularly in ICU5.

Families place enormous trust in hospitals when their loved ones are vulnerable. I hope that by sharing our experience, it encourages transparency and improvements so that other families do not have to go through the same pain.