Patients upset at changes in service delivery

NEWCASTLE – Ward 3 War Room has been the collection point for chronic medication for the past four years.

Read: Chronic medication project a success

Every month a professional nurse appointed to the War Room used to test and inject patients as part of ongoing treatment.

On Tuesday, October 11, an anonymous source was informed that nurses would no longer be available at the War Room.

Patients who received treatment at the War Room now have to go to the Newcastle Primary Healthcare Clinic (NPHC) in town.

“All injections must be carried out by a professional nurse,” said Rishie Ramdhani, who is in charge of Medipost at the War Room.

One of the patients who regularly requires injections now needs to walk a cumbersome distance to the clinic.

Another patient who requires injections for depression finds this change in the system inconvenient. Many others share similar sentiments.

A resident complained it was difficult to try and get healthcare from the clinic. She suffers from arthritis, angina and high blood pressure. During a recent visit to the NPHC she waited in a queue all day, and eventually returned home without receiving any treatment.

These residents were not notified beforehand of any changes.

Residents now worry if they will still receive medication because of the changes.

According to Ward 3 Councillor, Matthew Shunmugam, the distribution of chronic medication at the War Room was introduced in liaison with various stakeholders, who wanted to make the collection of medication easily accessible to chronic patients, without having to go to Madadeni Provincial Hospital or the NPHC.

“This service was introduced as a result of the collaborative effort of members of the ward committee, district pharmacist, Abdool Cassim, and the authorities at the NPHC and Newcastle Provincial Hospital,” explained Cllr Shunmugam.

He assured the new system would only affect patients in need of testing that should be carried out by professional nurses, and would not compromise the distribution of the chronic medication.

“With regards to the possible termination of the distribution of the chronic medication at the War Room, I do not think it will materialise, as much effort and sacrifices have been put into place to ensure that the service is rendered. In fact, the MEC for Health, Doctor Sibongisele Dhlomo had lauded the project. This project was used to roll out medication throughout the province and nationally. This is a project I am very passionate about and therefore I will do everything in my power to ensure continuity,” said Cllr Shunmugam.

“Regarding the nurses no longer going to collection points, I think that there’s more to this. If this issue is not resolved amicably, I would escalate the matter to higher authority in the Department of Health,” he concluded.

Also read: War Room, distributing chronic medication to the community

The Department of Health confirmed the matter was subject to investigation.