Long queues continue to plague Atteridgeville clinics
Medical supply shortages and infrastructural difficulties were also noted as challenges the facilities face.
Long waiting times and a lack of medical equipment were some of the key takeaways during an oversight visit by the Section 79 Committee for Health to the Gazankulu and Phomolong clinics in Pretoria West.
The inspections are part of a proactive effort to assess the operational readiness, cleanliness, and quality of healthcare services provided to residents of Atteridgeville, and aimed to evaluate the clinic’s operational efficiency and patient experience.
Committee Chairperson, Peggy de Bruin, made the unannounced inspections on September 10 and maintains that while issues were noted, the metro is more than capable of attending to residents’ healthcare needs.
“Our goal is to ensure that our clinics are not only well-equipped but also run efficiently and are clean, providing a dignified and safe environment for our communities.
“By conducting these visits, we can get the true picture of the daily challenges faced by both patients and staff. Furthermore, the goal is not to find fault, but to identify areas that need urgent attention so we can work on practical solutions.
“The feedback from these unannounced visits is crucial for identifying areas that require urgent intervention and improvement,” said De Bruin.
These inspections allowed her the opportunity to engage with staff and patients to get a first-hand account of the challenges and successes at both facilities.
Some of the key challenges included:
– Waiting times
– Availability of essential medicines and suppliers
– The general state of the infrastructure
– Staff and patients’ challenges
– The condition of medical equipment
– Overall hygiene standards in both facilities.
De Bruin says the findings from these visits will be compiled and presented to the relevant authorities to ensure necessary interventions are implemented to address any identified issues, which will be used to develop and implement targeted strategies to enhance service delivery.
She also assured residents the city remains committed to improving and strengthening its healthcare infrastructure and ensuring that all residents have access to the quality and reliable healthcare they need.
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