The 64-year-old was the former controller of the Homevale wastewater treatment plant who tried to save five Sol Plaatje workers who succumbed to hydrogen sulphide when they drowned in rising sludge at the plant in 2012.
A 64-YEAR-old diabetic patient, who apparently waited almost 24 hours for an ambulance to arrive after experiencing severe pain in his foot, has had his second leg amputated.
Trevor Naidu had to undergo surgery at the Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital on Friday.
“On Wednesday morning I woke up with excruciating pain and my foot was swollen and covered in blisters. I called for an ambulance six times. I wanted to seek medical treatment to prevent amputation. My other leg was amputated late last year.”
He added that following surgery both he and another elderly patient in the ward were not assisted to make use of the bathroom over the weekend.
Naidu was the former controller of the Homevale wastewater treatment plant who tried to save five Sol Plaatje workers who succumbed to hydrogen sulphide when they drowned in rising sludge at the plant in 2012.
Shaine Griqua from the Shaine Griqua Advice and Development centre in Colville said Naidu’s family were so distressed that they had made a personal plea to the MEC for the Department of Health to intervene on Saturday.
“Naidu’s sister-in-law phoned the hospital several times. They claimed that they never heard Naidu calling them, despite him loudly banging any object that he had access to, in order to attract their attention.”
He added that the patients did not want to wet their beds as it was likely that the linen would not be changed thereafter.
“These patients have lost their limbs and are not capable of helping themselves after surgery. At one point a porter assisted Naidu to use the ablution facilities. Its enough trauma having to lose a leg.”
He stated that he had contacted the emergency and ambulance land line to transport Naidu for medical treatment on several occasions on Wednesday at around 2pm.
“I was informed that there are only four ambulances available to service Kimberley and Ritchie and that they were only attending to Covid-19 cases.”
He added that the patient’s toe was starting to rot and required urgent medical attention.
Griqua pointed out that while it was necessary to priotise Covid-19 patients, it was inhumane to neglect patients with other ailments and health conditions.
“How can the Province claim to be ready to tackle the pandemic if it does not have the infrastructure or resources to take care of patients that rely on the state for require medical treatment? Many patients do not have access to the luxury of private medical aid.”
He added that patients had to arrive at the hospital in an ambulance in order to receive prompt medical assistance.
“Due to the Covid-19 regulations, patients have to wait in long queues and caregivers are not permitted to accompany patients inside the hospital.”
Griqua indicated that an ambulance eventually arrived at Naidoos house after 2pm on Thursday.
Spokesperson for the Department of Health Lebogang Majaha said they would follow up with the case.
