THERE is concern about the increasing number of people in need of health care, who bypass all phase one levels of care available to the community, according to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health.
Ngwelezana Hospital Public Relations Officer Thobile Hadebe said a worrying increase of health care users come to the hospital without referral letters, demanding health services, but sidestep all the first levels of care.
‘The whole community is urged to go to local clinics before going to hospitals for health assistance. Hospitals are for health care users who have referral letters from a private doctor, a clinic or another hospital. This means their illnesses are more serious than the referring institution can handle,’ said Hadebe.
‘Clinics have been improved and are more accessible to people. Operation hours have been extended, the number of staff members, especially professional nurses, has been increased and new services have been added.
‘The clinics are being supported to give the best service and some infrastructures and buildings are being upgraded and modernised,’ she said.
‘The community is encouraged to utilise these clinics as services are free, the queues are manageable and they are normally located within the community for easy access.
‘At the hospital, there are charges involved for access to services; unless you fall under non-paying categories such as unemployed, a pensioner, on a child support grant, a veterans grant, on a foster care grant, have tuberculosis, have neurological problems, or you are coming to get test results and you have proof of the above.
‘Also, more clinics have plans to increase hours of service in the near future,’ she said.
CLINICS:
Clinics that are open for 24 hours: Thokozani Clinic, Eskhawini area; Phaphamani Clinic, Eskhawini area; Khandisa Clinic, Vulindela area and Ngwelezana Clinic, Ngwelezana area.
– Clinics that are open 7 days a week and operate for 12 hours per day only: Buchanana Clinic, Ntambanana area and Sboniso Clinic in Mpembeni. At Buchanana Clinic, professional nurses are available for emergencies only, after hours.
– Clinics that are open 7 days a week and operate for 8 hours per day only: Madlanzini Clinic, Richards Bay; Mkhontokayise Clinic, Port Dunford; Ntuze Clinic, Ntuze Area and Mabamba Clinic, Ndabayakhe area. Mabamba clinic held an open day on the 24 of January 2014 informing the community that starting from the 02nd of February 2014, they will be operating for 7 days a week.
– Clinics that are open 5 days a week and operate for 8 hours per day only: Ntambanana Clinic, Mambuka area; Luwamba Clinic, Obuka area; Kwambiza Clinic, Upper Nseleni Area and Nomponjwana Clinic, near Melmoth area
