Extensive services at Leratong Hospital featured during open day
It was an open day to inform the public about services and departments within Leratong Hospital.
It has been years since Leratong Hospital hosted an open day.
But on 22 February, the aim of this open day was to offer people a clear explanation of how things operate in the hospital. Many patients come to the hospital seeking medical assistance that clinics also can provide. Dr Shala Mokae, who is the acting CEO at Leratong, explained that the health facility is a regional hospital.
“We operate on a priority system. When you enter the hospital we check if you are a priority one, two or three category of patient. Our mission is to create an effective public health-care system and patients are our centre point. It is important to understand the operational system so that we avoid confusion; we are just a regional hospital with just 855 beds,” said Mokae.
Leratong provides a 24-hour casualty and 24-hour theatre service; it has a gynaecology department; a post natal and antenatal clinic; internal medicine, and an ear, nose and throat department; plastic surgery; renal unit; and ophthalmology, paediatric and orthopaedic services. Others are allied services, which include radiology, pharmacy, speech therapy and audiology.
Members of the community and schools surrounding the area attended the open day. Stalls were set up by every department to present what their main function is. Health screenings were done and the community had a chance to experience the health workers in a more relaxed and educational environment, away from the day to day pressure that work brings.
Dr Nokwanda Mzondo emphasised the importance of a clinic and that they provide the same if not better treatment as the hospital.
“We receive patients referred to us by the clinics; people usually avoid the clinics and come straight to us. We work with a patient priority system that will make you feel as if you are not receiving enough attention from the medical staff. In that regard, we write a letter to refer you to a clinic where you can be assisted before you get to us. It is imperative that we access our local clinics first because they also have doctors and nurses with the same training as those in hospitals,” added Mzondo.
Complaints about health-care facilities and staff can be lodged through the Mpilo app, a mobile application which is aimed at improving the patients’ experience at public healthcare facilities. You can download it on your mobile phone through, Google Play or IOS. Alternatively, use the suggestion box for complaints.
