Clinic committee weighs in on challenges

FOLLOWING the inaugural meeting of the Bluff primary healthcare clinic committee on Tuesday, 8 July, ward 66 councillor and committee chairman, Duncan Du Bois has released his report on the challenges to the functioning and efficacy of the clinic.

According to his report, committee member, Margaret Everett noted the foremost challenge was the need to fast-track service delivery. To which, clinic manager, Sr Grace Mufamadi, added: “The clinic was hostage to the policy of access by all on any given day. That meant that patients requiring specific needs could not be treated only on allocated days. The clinic is required to offer a comprehensive range of treatments and services on each day of operation.”

With no pharmacist, staff members have to dispense medicine, meaning more time spent on each patient. Further delays are experienced when there is a shortage of certain medicines and when a staff member has to be sent to a neighbouring clinic due to staff shortages. Unfortunately, according to the terms of the World Health Organisation, which the clinic abides by, they do not quality for more staff as they meet the ratio of one professional nurse to 35 patients.

“In response to a question by me as to what the clinic lacked in terms of infrastructure, Sr Mufamadi regretted that it needed more consultation space. Also that it had no storeroom,” said Du Bois.

To provide suggestions or information on these or other challenges facing the clinic, contact Margaret Everett on 082-724-5741 or Lynette Motala on 073-183-3733. “The clinic committee encourages patients to liaise with it with regard to feedback, suggestions and complaints,” said Du Bois.