Extended hours at Princess Clinic passing the test
"Although there have been a few challenges the extended hours seem to be successful"
Four months have passed since the launch of the extended operating hours project at the Princess Clinic, and everyone wants to know how it is going.
According to the councillor for Ward 71, René Benjamin, despite facing some minor challenges, the new operating hours seem to be working well. “The clinic is busier than ever and the team is working hard to ensure good healthcare is brought to the residents. The after hours service has been challenging, especially on the nights when there has only been one or two patients,” she said.
She also said that she feels the offering of the longer hours to patients seems to be successful if you look at the numbers. “In October of last year, the clinic had 2 117 patients, in November they treated 3 062 people, and in December they saw 2 464 patients. The only reason for the lower numbers in December is because of school holidays and residents going on vacation or home”.
The clinic is dependent on a generator, which also poses its own challenges. “There will always be that day when the generator stops working because it ran out of oil. Thankfully both the clinic staff and City Power have been quick to respond when this happens,” she said.
The staff are meticulous about keeping hourly records of what happens during the extended shift – so far, they have had to deal with the electrocution of a seven-year-old boy, deliver a baby as there was no time to send the mother to hospital, and assist a poison victim.
“Despite the overwhelming number of patients the staff has to deal with on a daily and monthly basis, they provide friendly service to everyone,” said Benjamin.
To assist the community, a notice board has been put up at the guard house where job opportunities can be viewed. “Community members will be able to view available job opportunities within the CoJ as well as the private sector,” she said.
Have you visited the clinic since the launch of the extended operating hours? Let us know in the comments box below what your experience was like.
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