Transport delays frustrate hospital patients
A bus is supposed to pick up patients at Port Shepstone Regional Hospital at 05:30, but they wait for hours, if they are lucky, it comes two or three hours later.
Port Shepstone Regional Hospital patients who use a Emergency Medical Services bus to get to hospitals in Durban say they have had enough with transport delays.
According to patients, last Monday the bus was late, but on previous occasions it has not arrived at all.
This means that for those who need to be admitted for operations, treated for chemotherapy or other treatments, they have missed their appointment dates.
The bus is supposed to pick up patients at the hospital at 05:30, but they wait for hours, if they are lucky, it comes two or three hours later.
Furious patients say the delays are affecting their hospital visits, and to make another appointment takes weeks. They use the bus because it’s more convenient for sick people.
Also, taxi fare to Durban is expensive.
Phindile Hadebe from Bangibizo in Mtwalume says she has experienced the bus breaking down on the way to Durban, and she has also had an issue with the bus being late on the day of her appointment.
“We go to different hospitals in Durban to get medical help which our regional hospital cannot provide, We are here at 05:30 and we are supposed to leave Port Shepstone at 06:00. If the bus is late or has a problem, no one lets us know, we wait here for hours, just like how we are waiting now.”
Hadebe said other patients sleep at the hospital, so that they are on time for the bus, as they travel as far as from St Faith’s.
She added that the hospital did try to assist them, but they couldn’t help.
Ugu District Department of Health was contacted for comment, but none was received at the time of going to press.
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