An angry patient threw urine at nurses who were sitting in a canteen gossiping after he had spent four hours waiting to be attended to at a clinic in South Africa.
In a video shared on social media, the man can be heard complaining about how long he had been waiting to be assisted.
“It’s 3.30pm now and we have been waiting,” the man says, voicing his concern the clinic will close while he and other patients are waiting to be seen.
When they did not rise to assist him, he is seen splashing them with urine.
The Gauteng Department of Health said the incident happened at the Calcot Dlephu clinic in Tsakane in Ekurhuleni on Friday, January 20, 2023.
Gauteng MEC for health and wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said the conduct was inhumane and vulgar.
“Irrespective of the complaint the member of the public might be having against the health workers, this cannot justify the attack on them. It is uncalled for and we condemn this vulgar act in the strongest possible terms,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.
She has directed the department to investigate and establish the facts around the incident, to determine a course of action.
The MEC said recourse mechanisms are available to anyone dissatisfied with the service they receive, such as escalating complaints and allegations to quality assurance people or the facility manager at the relevant service point.
“I appeal to communities to work with us. We have made a commitment to ensure we improve patient experience at healthcare facilities,” she added.
Watch video below: