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Cape Town - As part of the ongoing debate about the high cost of private hospital care, a Fin24 user, who works in a private hospital, has written about various problems, including issues with linen.
She wrote how there was a battle with linen at the particular private hospital were she works.
"At a well known private hospital they are battling with linen to such an extent that they do not even put clean linen on all the beds each day. Their linen service is contracted out," wrote the Fin24 user.
Two other Fin24 users responded to confirm the concern about linen problems in (some) private hospitals.
READ: Debate on private hospital costs hots up
A Fin24 user, who wants to remain anonymous, writes that the linen issue is a big problem within the private hospital care sector.
"There is a clear indication of linen shortages and no emphasis is put on this issue by the private health care sector," he writes.
"Patients pay thousands of rands to be in a private hospital, but they cannot deliver sufficiently on the linen issues."
He said some private hospitals put a lot of emphasis on client satisfaction and request their patients to comment on their experiences while admitted for hospitalisation, with the hope of improving their service.
In his view these comments are frowned upon by the private hospital sector and "they believe there's not a linen problem".
"As petty as this might sound, if a private hospital cannot even deliver on the linen problem, how are patients supposed to trust the trained professionals (registered nurses and doctors) who have our lives and health in their hands?" he asked.
READ: Private hospital staff: We are money making machines
Fin24 user Lesego also mentioned the linen problem as part of her bad experience with staff at a private hospital.
She was admitted top one of the private hospitals in the North West province after giving birth by cesarean.
"I remember waking up in pain on the second day and being very thirsty. When I asked the nurse for water she said I must get it from the top of the drawer by myself," she writes.
"The nurses there were so arrogant - it felt more like hell."
Lesego says her linen was not changed despite having blood on it.
"Honestly, the prices for private hospitals are high for nothing," she concludes.
ALSO READ: Opting for no medical aid, state hospitals
- Fin24
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyFin24 have been independently written by members of the Fin24 community. The views of users published on Fin24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent those of Fin24.
