KZN patient was told to leave clinic while waiting for ambulance

Sthembile Mkhize, a 30-year-old woman from KwaNyuswa in KwaZulu-Natal, has shared her frightening experience at the Halley Stott Clinic. On September 10th, Mkhize and her boyfriend went to the 24-hour clinic after she experienced severe abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness. She was admitted to the high care unit, where she was given treatment and an ambulance was called to transfer her to St Mary’s Hospital.

However, the ambulance did not arrive, and after repeatedly asking about the waiting time, the night-shift nurse asked Mkhize to sign a form and leave the clinic. Mkhize, who could not read the document, was told to leave without having enough time to understand its contents. She spent the night outside the clinic and later returned the same day, only to be asked to return for further care on November 14th.

Despite the hospital's promise to assist her with a referral letter, nothing has been done since. Mkhize is now too afraid to return to her local clinic, fearing the staff may be talking behind her back about her experience. The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has not responded to inquiries on the matter.