Which hospital should you go to?

As patients queue up at public health hospitals across the city, many are turned away because they went to the wrong hospital and did not have a referral letter from a doctor or clinic.

Spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Health Steve Mabona said that residents were encouraged to visit hospitals as they must first see a primary health care giver. “We have a lot of people who go to hospital and are not even supposed to be there, hence they end up getting turned away,” Mabona said.

He explained that the first point of contact that a patient must go through is a primary health facility (Clinic). “Once a patient visits a clinic where the necessary care and medication are administered, they will be referred to a hospital if their condition requires more specialised care that is not available at the clinic,” he further explained.

Mabona said residents must be aware that usually patients will be referred to their nearest health facility depending on where they live and that it was important for patients to go to the hospital that they have been referred to in order to avoid confusion .

He pointed out that patients who had complaints should report their concerns to Quality Assurance Officers based at all health institutions. “If patients are not satisfied with the level of care or service that they have received from the health care institute they have been referred to, they should report their matter to Facility Managers (CEO of the respective hospitals or the Clinic Managers as applicable). Their concerns will be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated,” he said. He added that patients were also encouraged to lodge any concerns or complaints through the 24 hour call centre.

• West Rand patients will be referred to: Leratong and Yusuf Dadoo Hospitals.
• Roodepoort patients will be referred to: Helen Joseph Hospital
• Northcliff, Randburg and Northgate patients’will be referred to: Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic hospital.

Details: Gauteng Department of Health complaints, 0860 011 000

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