Unable to Reach Hospital for Weeks After Referral, Extremely Frustrating Experience

I am extremely disappointed with the level of service (or lack thereof) I have experienced while trying to contact Steve Biko Hospital over the past month.

I was referred to the hospital by Tembisa Hospital for my daughter’s treatment, and I was clearly instructed to begin calling during the first week of March to arrange the next steps. The hospital strictly instructed that I should call before coming since the queues/ waiting list are long. Since then, I have made countless attempts to get through via phone, but the lines are consistently unanswered. Despite calling repeatedly over an extended period, I have not been able to reach anyone or receive any assistance.

This ongoing lack of response has caused significant frustration and has directly delayed my ability to secure the medical care my daughter urgently needs. As a single, unemployed mother, navigating this process has already been extremely difficult, and the inability to get through to the hospital has made an already stressful situation even more challenging.

I understand that hospitals are busy, but the complete lack of response over such a long period is deeply concerning, especially for patients who have been formally referred and are waiting for care. I sincerely hope this matter is addressed so that patients can receive timely communication and assistance when they need it most.