Asthma sufferer turned away

2008-07-29 09:40

Una Cupido

Cape Town - A four-year-old asthma sufferer who developed breathing problems on Saturday night, was apparently refused emergency treatment at Groote Schuur Hospital.

Vincent Vlooh's mother, Shireen Vlooh, 26, said her son was struggling to breathe when they arrived at the hospital at about 23:30.

"One of the nursing staff told us they don't treat children and that we had to take Vincent to the Red Cross Children's Hospital."

According to Vlooh, they were not even offered an ambulance to take them to the hospital.

'He could have died'

At the Red Cross Children's Hospital, Vincent was given oxygen eight times to normalise his breathing.

"The doctor said if we had come any later, he could have died."

The doctor also said that Vincent had a serious case of the flu and his respiratory tract was blocked.

Red Cross Children's Hospital spokesperson Diana Ross confirmed that the child was admitted and treated at the hospital.

Vincent was released on Sunday afternoon.

Groote Schuur Hospital spokesperson Leigh Pollio confirmed that Vincent was at the hospital.

"The patient was seen by a doctor in the emergency unit. The parents were told that they (the staff) were going to give him something to make him a bit more comfortable," said Pollio.

Children usually referred to Red Cross hospital

The child would then be referred to the Red Cross hospital, she said.

Pollio said that by the time the doctor returned to give the child the medicine, the family was no longer at the unit. "The general rule at the hospital is that children are referred to the Red Cross hospital as that hospital specialises in paediatrics.

"Children younger than 12 years old will be treated in emergency situations at Groote Schuur and then they will be referred to the Red Cross Children's Hospital," she said.

- Die Burger