Dental clinic turns away patients
There are rumours that the clinic will soon close its doors to the public.
Brakpan residents who cannot afford private dental healthcare have been struggling over the past few weeks to get basic treatment, or any treatment at all.
There are rumours that the Kingsway Dental Clinic, which is run by the Gauteng Provincial Government, will soon close its doors to the public.
Residents have reported that the clinic is currently operating on only a few days a week.
Adding to this concern is the ongoing battle clinic staff have with the electricity of the facility being cut by the Ekurhuleni Metro.
Hundreds of resident of all ages rely on the services offered at the clinic, which has been operating for many years.
Concerned patients told the Herald that they have been turned away from the facility with pain tablets.
The Herald visited the clinic on Friday, last week, after residents complained about the facility having no power.
The power supply was allegedly cut due to non-payment.
Four woman, one of whom was 87-year-old Emma Modise, had already started treatment when the power went off.
They had received local anaesthetic before the electricity was cut and were then simply given pain medication and told to go home.
People in the waiting area were told that no further treatment would take place and were patiently waiting for pain killers.
Welheminah Sabi (30), who accompanied her grandmother, Emma, to the clinic, told the Herald they travelled from Tsakane to visit the facility three times in recent weeks.
“My grandmother is in pain, her teeth are loose and her gums are sore,” said Welheminah.
“It is a struggle for us to get here and now we will have to come back again.”
A young man (23) explained how he and his girlfriend (22) cannot afford to go to a private dentist and that they both need urgent treatment.
“It is very unfortunate that we cannot be treated here any more,” he said, adding that he struggles to sleep at night due to the pain caused by three broken teeth.
“We come back on a weekly basis, but there is always a problem,” he added.
The Herald requested comment from the Ekurhuleni Metro and the Gauteng Provincial Government, but none had been received at the time of going to press.
