Bad Manners At Clinic

PLEASE allow me to air my view in your newspaper.On Friday, June 3 2005, I paid a visit to the Khomasdal Clinic when my daughter got sick, only to discover the most awful, shocking, disrespect and insulting response from the person who ought to know how to respond to his patients or clients in an understandable, polite and well-mannered way.

I made a big mistake when I simply questioned why it was that the patient who came in last was assisted first while those who came in first had to wait. The receptionist got annoyed when I asked the question.I asked if he could not respond in a better mannered way.I did not come to fight or to develop an argument; I simply asked a question.This did not help very much and we exchanged words for about 20 minutes, valuable time during which he could have helped me along with five other patients.When I told him that he was not supposed to talk to me that way and that I could lay a complaint, he said that I could go ahead and he did not care.The disappointed superintendent of the clinic and the other staff members could not bear the attitude of their colleague but just had to sit and listen to his awful manners.After listening to our conversation, the superintendent called me into her office and apologised for what had happened and provided me with a pen and paper to write my complaint, which I did.I have also learned from other patients that it was not the first time the receptionist had been rude to patients.I personally think this person does not have the qualities to work in the front offices.We, the community, can no longer tolerate people who show us no respect and I assure you that if the Ministry of Health is unable to take appropriate action, we will not be treated this way and will take action.On the other hand, I would like to applaud the superintendent and the nursing staff for their good work and encouragement.Do not be discouraged by the incident and I will continue to visit the clinic whenever the need arises.Concerned Citizen KhomasdalThe receptionist got annoyed when I asked the question.I asked if he could not respond in a better mannered way.I did not come to fight or to develop an argument; I simply asked a question.This did not help very much and we exchanged words for about 20 minutes, valuable time during which he could have helped me along with five other patients.When I told him that he was not supposed to talk to me that way and that I could lay a complaint, he said that I could go ahead and he did not care.The disappointed superintendent of the clinic and the other staff members could not bear the attitude of their colleague but just had to sit and listen to his awful manners.After listening to our conversation, the superintendent called me into her office and apologised for what had happened and provided me with a pen and paper to write my complaint, which I did.I have also learned from other patients that it was not the first time the receptionist had been rude to patients.I personally think this person does not have the qualities to work in the front offices.We, the community, can no longer tolerate people who show us no respect and I assure you that if the Ministry of Health is unable to take appropriate action, we will not be treated this way and will take action.On the other hand, I would like to applaud the superintendent and the nursing staff for their good work and encouragement.Do not be discouraged by the incident and I will continue to visit the clinic whenever the need arises. Concerned Citizen Khomasdal