Impatience boils over at Springs Clinic
Doctor allegedly takes a smoke break while patients wait for treatment.
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Springs resident Francis Oosthuizen visited the Springs Clinic on January 17.
“I was disgusted by their service,” she says.
Oosthuizen says she arrived at 11am to pick up medication and there were only a few patients in front of her in the queue to see the doctor.
According to Oosthuizen the doctor on duty took a smoke break at 11.45am with all the patients still waiting to see him and returned 15 minutes later.
“I waited for an hour and 20 minutes to pick up medication which usually takes about 10 minutes on a Saturday.”
Oosthuizen also says that when the doctor eventually saw her, he was rude to her.
“I was not the only one complaining as many of the other people waiting in line couldn’t believe the poor service.”
Themba Gadebe, spokesman for Ekurhuleni, says the clinic does not have an appointment system as all Primary Health Care Core Package Services are available on a daily basis from 8am to 4.30pm.
“Clinics receive a large number of clients who are attended to on a first come first serve basis which complicates the booking system,” he says.
More information from Ekurhuleni will follow.