The Backabuddy crowdfunding campaign for broadcaster Tom London's much-needed thoracic surgery at a private hospital had raised more than R331,000 from almost 500 donors by yesterday afternoon.
London's plight was cast in the spotlight when he shared online video footage showing deplorable conditions and poor patient treatment at Johannesburg's Helen Joseph Hospital. He had been taken there with severe lung complications and spent two weeks in the government facility.
London’s video rattled the Gauteng health department this week as it brought to the fore what most ordinary citizens who cannot afford private healthcare experience at public hospitals in the province.
Within a day of the video being posted last weekend, enough money had been donated to London for him to book into the private Morningside Mediclinic. However, he still needed more money for his surgery.
At 5pm, with about seven hours left, the crowdfunding campaign had surpassed its R300,000 target.
London told TimesLIVE on Wednesday he had been “clinging to my bed so they don’t send me back to Helen Joseph”.
London's Facebook rant highlighted the poor patient care he had been subjected to. It also prompted a visit from Gauteng premier Panyaza Lesufi.
London had spent 13 days in hospital being treated for a lung infection before taking the extreme decision to expose the terrible conditions and discharge himself.
A close relative drove him to Morningside Mediclinic and in no time he had raised about R120,000 in donations from those who caught wind of his situation.
The cost of London's much-needed operation is said to be R275,000.
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