North West clinics and community health centers are set to extend operating hours to reduce influx at hospitals.
Speaking during the delivery of R8.1 billion health budget vote at the Provincial Legislature on Tuesday, MEC Dr. Magome Masike said the department has revised the policy governing the operating hours of all clinics particularly in the rural areas.
“Nine community health centers have extended their operating hours from 12 to 24 hours while Ramokoka, Moruleng, Mahikeng Gateway, Lonely Park, Setlopo, Iketleng, Magogwe, Rapulana, Tsetse, Bakhubung, Modderkuil and Koedoesrand clinics have extended their services from eight to 12 hours daily.
“We will allocate the 126 community service professional nurses to needy areas to cater for extended hours of service by the third quarter of 2014/15,” MEC Masike said.
Health Infrastructure
“Tlhabane and Mathibestad Community health centers in Bojanala District are complete and will start operating during this financial year” said MEC Masike. This will further bring much needed relief to Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital patient influx as these new facilities will come with comprehensive package of care," he said.
The department has also completed construction of Tweelingspan/ Matsheng, Buxton, Magogwe, Mosweu, Lekgopung and Madibe a Makgabana clinics. Brits Hospital is now fully functional.
“These new infrastructure development projects have resulted in increased access to health services by users and nearby villages.
“Brits Hospital alone has ensured increased access to a complete package of District hospital services for the nearly 450 000 population of Madibeng Sub District while at the same time minimising interprovincial transfer of patients who need generalist clinical care,” MEC Masike said.
Masike announced that the department is planning to construct four new clinics at Weltevreden, Madikwe, Mmakaunyane and Maqwasie Hills.
Ambulances
The department has set aside R14 million to purchase 30 new ambulances during this financial year. A further R84.25 million will be channeled towards Emergency Medical Rescue Service (EMRS) Satellite Stations and a new planned patient transport model.
“The new model will provide basic transport for patients from clinics to community health centres and hospitals. This would free up ambulances to concentrate on responding to emergency calls only.
“This together with the acquisition of new ambulances will help improve response time as emergency vehicles are placed closer to communities they serve,” MEC Masike said.
He said the model was adopted after realising that the majority of cases done by EMRS were not emergencies but patients requiring transport.
“Seventy percent of patients that do not have an emergency condition are utilising the services of ambulances to reach hospitals, as they have no access to a coordinated public transport system, resulting in a burden on the already overstretched Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) System,” he announced.
Training of health professionals
The department has made significant efforts to deal with the shortage of health professionals in the province.
“We have significantly increased intake of students to be trained as doctors in Cuba. In 2011 we only managed to send 11, we sent 97 in 2012 and in 2013 we increased the number significantly to 180,” MEC Masike said.
He said his department aims to keep the intake above 100 in 2014/15 financial year as shortage of health professionals particularly in rural areas needs to be addressed.
Masike said his department has teamed up with the Wits Initiative for Rural Health Education (WIRHE) to produce much needed health professionals through its scholarship programme and the Clinical Associates programme.
About 39 graduates who received bursaries through the programme are now serving the province.
“They are a very positive clinical presence, helping with quality care for daily patients in the emergency and outpatient departments, and assisting with procedures in the wards and operating theatres,” Masike said.
The WIRHE Scholarship programme funds disadvantaged students to study for health professional degrees. There are currently 55 students on training at Wits, Medunsa and Pretoria universities.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane
Cell: 082 929 9958
E-mail: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
