Following receiving complaints from public health facility users, Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu this morning visited two clinics, Phola Park Community Health Centre in Thokoza and DJ Dumane Clinic in Vosloorus.
The aim of the unannounced visit was for the MEC to experience what patients go through when they seek medical attention at their local clinics and also to assist managers in finding solutions for the challenges they are facing in order to improve service delivery.
At both facilities, MEC Mahlangu emphasised the importance of treating all patients with respect to all health workers from cleaners, queue marshals, nurses, security guards and doctors.
She said, “Staff attitudes has to change. No patient should be abused just because they have no choice but to seek medical care in public health facilities.”
MEC Mahlangu stressed that services must be tailor made to suit patient needs. “Some of the patients have to go to work so they can’t be sitting in queues for long hours, some are diabetic and they need to eat regularly; some don’t even have to be at the clinic, medication can be delivered to their homes.”
At Phola Park clinic, she discovered that patients at this 24 hour facility have to arrive as early as 3 am to be seen. They wait outside the gates, in the cold until 07h30 when day shift nurses walk in.
“No patient must freeze in the cold waiting for a clinic gate to be opened especially in a 24 hours facility. Patients must be able to go in and receive treatment provided by night shift staff,” added MEC Mahlangu.
She also instructed district health officials to visit a community health centre (CHC) or clinic once a week so challenges can be identified and managed before patients are negatively affected.
MEC received positive feedback at the Dental Clinic at Phola Park and at the Maternal Obstetric Unit at DJ Dumane clinic. Both facilities were also clean.
The challenges that were common in these facilities were long waiting times and staff attitude.
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Head of Communications
Prince Hamnca
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