UPDATE: Patients respond to Steve Biko accusation
Following last week’s comment by the Steve Biko Academic hospital that the patients were to blame for long queues at the hospital, some patients spoke out on the issue.
Residents were furious following recent comments by Steve Biko Academic Hospital that “socialising” patients are to blame for long queues at the hospital.
“The staff takes their time and we have to wait a very long time to be assisted at the pharmacy department,” said resident Tshego Seutlwadi.
“There are only about three staff members helping patients, with little progress being made.”
ALSO READ: UPDATE: Steve Biko hospital blames patients for long queues
Resident Petro le Roux complained her step-mother had to wait at the hospital from 05:00.
“This way she is at least at the front of the queue, so that she can get her monthly medication; but she only leaves the hospital by 16:00,” she said.
“I do not think people have any idea as to how long some people must wait.”
Resident Lucia Teixeira Barbosa said the hospital has “always” had a problem with long queues.
“About 25 years ago, I remember my grandfather had to fall in a queue at around 06:00, only to leave at around 15:00,” she said.
Hospital CEO Dr Mathabo Mathebula said patients not sticking to the hospital’s working hours were making it difficult for other patients.
“It is not reasonable towards other patients to arrive at 17:00 in the afternoon to beat the following day’s queue,” she said.
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“The hours for the hospital’s out-patient and pharmacy department are from 07:00.”
“A chief culprit was an informal cardiology patient support group who used the hospital’s premises to meet as they waited in queue from the late afternoon throughout the evening until the next morning.”
“This has more of a social aspect to it than a practical healthcare requirement.”
“It is also dangerous having ill patients at the hospital premises for such extended periods [of up to 14 hours]. After all, they are not being monitored by any health professionals during that time. It is also a security risk for the hospital to have anyone holding picnics at night when supervision is limited.”
“I think you will appreciate that the management of any facility are responsible for the safety of everyone on those premises, by law. We unfortunately cannot assume responsibility for people who are gathering at our premises not for our care, but for each other’s company.”
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She said the important thing was that patients do not wait long once in queues.
“Currently, Steve Biko waiting times are within the provincial benchmark, meaning that waiting times are reasonable,” she said.
“We still try various ways to improve waiting times so that patients spend less time at the hospital.”
Meanwhile, patients also raised other concerns.
Kathleen Venter told Rekord collecting her medication from the hospital was “frustrating” but she blamed the problem on local taxis.
“They block the oncoming traffic and it is a complete nightmare,” she said.
“One morning I had to wait for two hours, if not longer, to be able to get into the hospital. I only got out at 18:00.”
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Venter said access to the hospital’s parking lot was also a problem.
“If the taxis could only be controlled, it would be a much better experience,” she said.
“They park in the lanes where vehicles must exit the lot. It’s crazy.”
Hospital spokesperson Lovey Mogapi said the hospital was negotiating with the Tshwane metro police to use other facilities around the hospital for parking.
“Metro police are also at the hospital every day during peak time to regulate traffic,” she said.
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“They are here from about 06:30 to 08:30 and from 15:30 to 16:30.”
The hospital’s visiting hours still represented a “struggle” though, she admitted.
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