Nicolette Dirk and Francesca Villette
PATIENTS at Mitchells Plain Community Health Centre say they are fed up with endlessly waiting for service at a facility that deals with about 1 500 patients daily.
Some said they were so frustrated with long queues and poor service that they did not mind if the place closed down.
Elderly and physically disabled patients alike wait in long queues in corridors in the hope of getting attention on the same day.
On a recent visit to the centre the Cape Times was greeted by many frustrated and tired patients who said they had arrived at 5am and by midday had not received attention.
Ruwayda Jacobs said she waited for nearly 12 hours on Thursday for medication for anxiety attacks.
“By the time I left the hospital there were no taxis to take me home and I had to call someone to fetch me. It’s not fair how we get treated at this hospital. Even if you come here early you won’t wait less than six hours to get help.”
Jacobs said that when waiting patients complained at the pharmacy, staff simply shut their counters.
“Mitchells Plain Community Health Centre is the only day hospital where you have to wait this long. I have been to day hospitals at Hanover Park and Manenberg and I usually get helped within two hours. The only reason I don’t always go to the day hospital in Hanover Park is because the gangsterism makes it dangerous.”
Another patient, who spoke on condition that her name was not published, said: “
The people being helped today (Thursday) at the chemist are the ones who waited the whole of yesterday without getting medication. Many are here from 5am and some get sick while waiting.
“They might as well just break down this hospital.”
Other patients complained they had to wait for hours
to make an appointment. A man who wanted an appointment for chest pains, said he was still waiting at midday, despite having arrived before 5am.
“Ever since I’ve come to this hospital the situation has been this way. They call it a day hospital because you end up waiting here all day,” he said.
Sithembiso Magubane, provincial health department spokesman, said the centre had 108 medical professionals to see to the 1 520 daily patients. A total of 127 640 clients were seen at the centre between October and December 2014.
“The facility does work on an appointment system but also has an average of 170 walk-ins or unbooked clients daily which places further pressure on the centre,” he said.
“On a daily basis pharmacy staff also use a post basic pharmacy assistant to provide a service at Westridge Clinic. Three pharmacy staff members are also used daily at the Chronic Dispensing Unit servicing between 650 and 750 clients per day plus 30 patients referred in from secondary and tertiary units every day.”
Magubane said the centre’s improvement plans included a new system relating to the allocation of patients to the out patients department, and a chronic club for chronic patients.