The City of Ekurhuleni has responded to concerns raised by residents and staff about long waiting times and staff shortages at Alberton North Clinic, stating that the challenges are not unique to the facility but affect primary healthcare clinics across the city.

According to the city, the relevant authorities are aware of the staffing challenges facing Alberton North Clinic and other municipal primary healthcare facilities.

The matter has also been brought to the attention of the Gauteng Department of Health, which is responsible for primary healthcare services.

Vacant posts remain unfilled

The city explained that vacant positions have not yet been filled because of ongoing discussions regarding the provincialisation of municipal clinics.

It said primary healthcare is the responsibility of the Gauteng Department of Health and that the department is working with the Ekurhuleni Health District to strengthen staffing at clinics.

The city added that there are ongoing initiatives to appoint additional clinical, administrative and allied health staff to address capacity challenges across primary healthcare facilities in the district.

Measures to reduce waiting times

To improve patient flow and reduce waiting times, the city said several measures are already being implemented at clinics.

These include staggered appointment systems to prevent overcrowding early in the morning, triage systems that prioritise critically ill patients, and fast-track queues for stable chronic medication patients, pregnant women and young babies.

The city also highlighted the Integrated Clinical Services Management Model, which aims to strengthen primary healthcare services and improve the quality of care.

Improving access to healthcare

The city said stable chronic patients are encouraged to make use of the Central Chronic Medicines Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) programme, allowing them to collect their medication from designated external pick-up points such as pharmacies and retail stores instead of waiting in clinic queues.

To maximise available resources, health facility managers also reallocate staff to high-demand service areas during peak periods, while additional clinical training enables professional nurses to manage more primary healthcare consultations independently.

The city further noted that the Gauteng Department of Health has introduced measures such as re-employing retired nurses to help address staff shortages across the province.

The city emphasised that the provision of primary healthcare services is the responsibility of the Gauteng Department of Health and not the City of Ekurhuleni.

The response follows concerns raised by residents about long waiting times and staff shortages at Alberton North Clinic, where staff previously indicated that only five nurses were responsible for managing 12 healthcare programmes.

The city said it remains committed to working with the Gauteng Department of Health to improve healthcare services and address staffing challenges across primary healthcare facilities.

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