Olievenhoutbosch clinic hours revamped to ease patient load

The government is exploring the option of introducing a 24-hour clinic model at the Olievenhoutbosch clinic.

Tshiamo Boikhutso
Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla, Provincial Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, and a healthcare worker at the clinic. Image: x.com/@GautengHealth

Long queues and understaffing at the Olievenhoutbosch clinic may soon be things of the past as the national government has put plans in place to extend the clinic’s operating hours.

The aim is to resolve understaffing and long queues to help alleviate the challenges raised by the community recently.

Olievenhoutbosch patients have for years complained about inadequate healthcare services, which have resulted in struggles to access to medical care.

To address these issues, the government is implementing an initiative that aims to allow more patients to be assisted and reduce the strain on exhausted healthcare teams.

Deputy Health Minister Joe Phaahla, Provincial Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, and Tshwane MMC for Health Tshegofatso Mashabela visited the clinic on April 15 to assess the situation firsthand.

 

Mashabela explained that the purpose of their visit was to inaugurate a pilot programme designed to extend the clinic’s operating hours in direct response to the overwhelming patient volumes in the area.

“This pilot programme signifies a significant step towards improving healthcare in the region,” she noted.

She stated that a benchmarking exercise was conducted as part of the visit to explore the feasibility of implementing a 24-hour service at the Olievenhoutbosch clinic.

 

“The aim is to ensure that primary healthcare services are accessible and available round the clock, making quality healthcare a reality for the residents of Tshwane.

“By pushing the boundaries of traditional operating hours and exploring innovative solutions, health officials are demonstrating their commitment to addressing the healthcare needs of the community.”

The MMC added that this initiative not only aims to ease the burden on existing healthcare facilities but also represents a proactive approach towards delivering comprehensive and efficient healthcare services to all residents in the region.

During the visit, MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko highlighted that population growth in the area had outpaced service delivery.

“There is a high number of people coming here. The population is growing in this place, but the services, in terms of this heart of health, have not been growing with it,” she said.

She mentioned that this concern aligns with Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s previous suggestion that a hospital, whether regional or district, needs to be built to address these service delivery challenges.

Phaahla also noted that the health department had received complaints about the unavailability of medicine at the clinic.

He said that they initiated discussions to gather feedback on this issue.

However, a subsequent report from both the metro and the province, confirmed by a representative of the clinic committee, revealed that further investigation found no evidence supporting the claims of a shortage of medical supplies.

“The report we received also states that the medicine stock at the clinic is about 97%,” he stated.

Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo provided further details on the pilot programme.

He told Rekord that if the proposed extended service hours budget is approved, the operating hours will be from 16:00 to 19:00 on weekdays only.

“The pilot programme is expected to run for the financial year 2025/26, and its success will depend on the review of outcomes,” said Mashigo.

“The expected outcome is improved access to primary healthcare services.”

Mashigo said that various staffing models are being investigated, and the best option will be implemented pending budget approval.

He confirmed that the clinic will continue to implement the appointment system currently in place while also accommodating walk-in patients to manage patient volumes and waiting times during the extended hours.

“Both appointment systems and walk-ins will be accommodated.

“The success of the pilot programme will be evaluated based on increased utilisation rates, decreased waiting times, improved health indicator outcomes, and enhanced patient experiences,” said Mashigo.

He added that if the pilot programme proves successful, there are plans to make the extended hours permanent, contingent on budget availability.

Ward councillor Kenneth Masha expressed optimism regarding the programme’s potential impact, believing it will help ensure that many community members can receive the assistance they need.

“With the current operating hours, the nurses are now only able to assist about 400 people, so at least with the added hours, more people can get help,” he said.

He estimated that at least 100 more patients could be served during the extended hours.

“The lack of sufficient healthcare facilities in the area is not a new issue and has been a concern for many years,” he said.

He noted that multiple complaints regarding the clinic’s inadequacies have been raised since 2014.

“Over the years, there have been serious conflicts between community members and foreign nationals who stay in the community because most of the foreign nationals would arrive early, around 03:00, to queue and take up the whole space,” he recalled.

Masha shared troubling incidents from the past, where young girls would leave while it was still dark to queue, leading to some of them being attacked.

“The clinic is not adequate, and we need a bigger health facility, like a community health centre or a hospital, which would be of great assistance to the community,” he stated.

As the population in Olievenhoutbosch has grown significantly, Masha insisted that a single clinic cannot cater to all those people, resulting in residents overflowing into nearby clinics.

He mentioned that at some of these facilities, residents are even turned away.

“Laudium Community Health Centre and Kalafong Hospital are among some of the healthcare facilities that have welcomed residents of Olievenhoutbosch.”

Masha expressed relief that residents’ complaints have finally received attention, thanks to the MMC for Health’s repeated visits to the clinic.

“The MMC has been to the clinic about three times this year, and she has seen the challenges that residents face.”

Residents also shared their experiences and ongoing struggles.

Ext 13 resident Basetsana Khumalo expressed hope for the new programme.

“I often wait hours at the clinic just to see a nurse. This extension could mean I finally get the care I need without spending half my day in the line,” she said.

She acknowledged the difficulties many in her community face, particularly during peak hours.

“A lot of people leave the clinic without receiving help after waiting for long hours.”

Another resident, Khwezi Ngcobo, shared that she often has to take time off work just to get to the clinic early.

“With more hours, I hope I can manage my health without sacrificing my job.”

Ngcobo mentioned past incidents where overcrowding led to delays in care, causing significant health issues for herself and her neighbours.

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