The Bez Valley Clinic has been facing challenges.
Last week the EXPRESS reported that despite the challenges, the staff has been determined to provide good health care to the community.
The City of Johannesburg Health Department has since commented on these challenges, which include a shortage of nurses, the lack of space (infrastructure) and the need for a permanent ambulance service and social workers.
According to the health department, it is in the process of appointing additional doctors, professional nurses, assistant nurses and health promoters to work in the city’s clinics.
“Interviews were conducted during December 2015. A number of health workers have been appointed already, but some of them are still serving notices. They are expected to start work in the CoJ’s clinics between March and April 2016,” said Mr Nkosinathi Nkabinde from the City of Johannesburg.
“In the meantime the city’s health department is also utilising the services of retired professional nurses to reduce the workload and waiting time at the clinic. All clinics are encouraged to implement a booking system for patients living with chronic medical conditions, immunisations, family planning services and so forth, to reduce the waiting time at clinics and establish support groups in the community. In doing so there will be a reduced number of patients that visit clinics,” said Mr Nkabinde.
According to the health department, Region F is one of those that will benefit from the interviews that were conducted in 2015.
The region will receive 12 additional professional nurses in March 2016, some of whom will be placed at the Bez Valley Clinic.
“The Bez Valley Clinic will be upgraded during the 2017/2018 financial year. The city will build a new health facility with more space to improve the delivery of comprehensive primary health care in the area.
“The new clinic is to be built in line with the National Health Core Standards and the National Health Insurance (NHI) requirements,” said Mr Nkabinde.
“On the issue of an ambulance service, this is provided by the Gauteng Health Department. The City of Johannesburg appointed four private ambulance service providers to assist with emergencies in case the ambulance takes too long to arrive during the emergency situation. The clinic manager has to contact the private ambulance in these cases,” said Mr Nkabinde.
“Regarding social workers, the department offers a referral service that is provided by a social development department but not based at the clinics. If the need for a social worker’s services is identified by the health professional, the referral will be made to the social development department to provide such assistance,” said Mr Nkabinde.
