Olievenhoutbosch clinic hours revamped to ease patient load
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.
Deputy Minister Dr Joe Joe Phaahla and MEC @NkomoNomantu undertaking an oversight visit at Olievenhoutbosch clinic to more effectively address operational and infrastructural challenges faced by the community and staff. #AsibeHealthyGP pic.twitter.com/EGBQX9wjYu
โ Tshwane District Health Services (@HealthTshwane) April 15, 2025
The @HealthZA Deputy Minister Dr Joe Phaahla and MEC @NkomoNomantu conducting an oversight visit at the Olievenhoutbosch Clinic's pharmacy to assess medical capacity. Security cameras were installed after a burglary contributed to medicine shortage. #AsibeHealthyGP #TacklingG13 pic.twitter.com/m9OlrS2yaQ
โ Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) April 15, 2025
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.
โฆ๏ธIn Picturesโฆ๏ธ
Breaking barriers in healthcare delivery! Visit to Olivenhoutbosch Clinic marks a significant milestone towards improving services for residents in the region.#EFFinGovernment pic.twitter.com/OCK9aSMbLo
โ ๐น๐๐๐ค๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐จ๐ (@Ngwana_Badimu) April 15, 2025
โฆ๏ธIn Picturesโฆ๏ธ
Today, the MMCof Health is with Deputy Minister of Health and the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) of Health Services in Gauteng, paid a visit to the Olivenhoutbosch Clinic. The purpose of their visit was to inaugurate a pilot program designed to extend theโฆ pic.twitter.com/OTnoFeeCNA
โ ๐น๐๐๐ค๐ค๐๐๐ ๐๐ค๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐จ๐ (@Ngwana_Badimu) April 15, 2025
'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.
Deputy Minister Dr Joe Phaahla says @HealthZA received a complaint about medicine unavailability at Olievenhoutbosch Clinic. He clarified the issue stems from poor communication from healthcare providers, not stock and the clinic has 97% medicine availability. #AsibeHealthyGP pic.twitter.com/ZK5lMXRNgR
โ Gauteng Health (@GautengHealth) April 15, 2025
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.
Do you have more information about the story?
Please send us an email to bennittb@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga Department of Health allocated close to R20b
During the recent 2025/26 budget and policy speech in the Provincial Legislature, the MEC for health, Sasekani Manzini, said the department's budget of R19.75b is more than just a financial allocation; it is a strategic mandate to deliver essential health services to the people. On July 22, Manzini said the largest portion, 60.36%, has been allocated to district health services, highlighting a strong focus on primary healthcare and community-level interventions. This is followed by central hospital services and provincial hospital services, receiving 10.48% and 10.06% respectively. Emergency medical services was allocated around 3% to deliver emergency medical services and planned patient transport. ALSO READ: Services disrupted at Mbombela licensing centre Manzini said a significant achievement that has changed people's quality of life by restoring their eyesight through the Cataract Marathon. 'In the beginning of the 2023/24 financial year, the department had a backlog of more than 14 000 cases of cataract surgery, so we dedicated Tonga Hospital as the Eye Care Centre.' 'The backlog had been reduced to 4 636 by the end of the last financial year, with a total of 10 292 operations conducted since the 2023/24 financial year. Our aim is to eradicate the backlog by the end of the 2026/27 financial year,' said Manzini. She added that significant obstacles remain, with antiretroviral treatment retention rates, the prevalence of teenage pregnancies, and malnutrition-related deaths demanding urgent, targeted action. 'Capital expenditure execution, though lagging at 22.4%, highlights the need for redoubled efforts in project delivery.' Regarding emergency medical services she said, 'We made a commitment of procuring 10 ambulances annually, but we can report that we managed to double our efforts in the last financial year. We procured 30 ambulances and, this year, we are planning to procure 15 more. We are committed to turning the situation around through the implementation of effective and efficient interventions that will restore and enhance service delivery.' During the debate on the budget, DA provincial chairperson and spokesperson on health, Bosman Grobler, said: 'The mandate of this department is probably the biggest of all departments in the province. One way of getting the basics right in healthcare is to have a proper record of the patients in your care. Unfortunately, a patient went missing from a hospital, only to be found weeks later, dead in a field next to the hospital.' ALSO READ: Education department collaborates with community to revamp Mphalali Secondary School He also highlighted that the department is unable to locate 121 000 HIV-positive patients that require medical intervention. Grobler went on to point to what he called a glaring inconsistency in the number of ambulances the MEC buys on a yearly basis. 'Currently, there are 181 ambulances, with another 16 budgeted for this financial year. But the department has fewer than 75 ambulances in operation due to staff shortages. The MEC could only employ 28 emergency care personnel. All the other positions could not be filled due to financial constraints. Let us get the basics right,' he said.
TimesLIVE
06-08-2025
- TimesLIVE
Health advocates push for harm reduction in smoking alternatives
Safer smoking alternatives were high on the agenda at a women's wellness event where Gauteng MPL and former health MEC Dr Bandile Masuku called for deeper engagement on harm reduction. Speaking at The Wellness Collective, a gathering focused on shifting South Africa from selling harm to promoting wellness, Masuku on Tuesday pointed to the example of a pregnant woman who smokes but cannot quit entirely. 'So, it's just a matter that maybe scientists must take a more serious approach on the alternatives on addiction itself,' he said. Parliament is continuing public hearings on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill. Independent scientists and medical practitioners have already told the portfolio committee on health that harm reduction is grounded in science and offers safer alternatives to smoking. Tobacco harm reduction advocate Buhle Binta, who also serves as head of scientific engagement for Sub-Saharan Africa at tobacco company Philip Morris International, spoke to the collective about the importance of alternatives such as e-cigarettes in health discussions. 'The importance of harm reduction is that people who smoke have started for various reasons: behavioural reasons, peer pressure, stress management, or whatever it is but at the end of the day, the reality is they are smoking now and we always, as a company, say that you should quit. Quit if you can but for someone who cannot quit or makes the choice not to quit, we cannot stigmatise them and this is where harm reduction comes in,' she said. Dr Vivian Manyeki, a public health physician and epidemiologist at Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest referral hospital in East and Central Africa, would like to see a future in which Africa leads with its own context-driven health policies, shaped by lived experiences, local expertise and innovation. 'We've stopped using frameworks that work in another country and we've brought ours, we've made ours, and we've incorporated all those groups we are saying we want to go to the table. We are using new artificial intelligence technologies. We are using the new styles. We are using evidence-based approaches, and we are taking experiences and master stories to build the frameworks for the policies. 'I'd like to see a future where we don't have to remind people what harm reduction is. We don't have to define it. Let it be something that people know. They know that wearing a safety belt is a harm reduction practice. Using a condom is a harm reduction practice. I want a future where we tell people it is OK to use these products as part of harm reduction strategies,' she said. Medical practitioner and consultant Dr Esthras Moloko appealed to delegates to seize Women's Month by 'living by example'. 'By blending compassion with science, inclusion with transparency, urgency with innovation, we can unlock healthier futures for every South African woman and man and their families. From sunscreens to seat belts, innovations to reduce harm caused by certain behaviours and activities must be woven into our everyday lives.' Moloko said inclusive, transparent and timely regulation could unlock the full potential of harm reduction, not only for tobacco addiction, but also for challenges such as sugar overconsumption, alcohol misuse, and more. 'Regulation is one of the tools that we must use against co-incurring and non-co-incurring diseases. By embedding these inclusive, transparent and timely regulation principles, and applying them across multiple domains of addictions and addictive behaviours, government, business, and various centres can deliver significant health gains.' 'They can protect the vulnerable populations and uphold the spirit of those who, like the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, call for harm reduction. So join me today and every day in building a culture of health and wellness where no harm is left behind, no harm is unavoidable, and every life is finite,' he said.
TimesLIVE
05-08-2025
- TimesLIVE
Gauteng health MEC warns against online vaccine misinformation
Gauteng health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko has sounded the alarm on vaccine misinformation, urging parents not to rely on social media for medical advice as the province launches a mass campaign to stop the spread of measles and rubella. Nkomo-Ralehoko was speaking at Steve Biko Primary School in Orange Farm during the launch of the province's Measles-Rubella Mass Vaccination Campaign which aims to immunise more than 4-million children aged between six months and under 15 years by September 12. 'To all parents, I want to assure you that this vaccine is free, effective and safe. Do not listen to fake news or misinformation spreading on social media. The lies you read online can cost a life. If you have doubts, do not go to TikTok or Facebook talk to our health professionals at your nearest clinic or district co-ordinators. They will give you facts, not fear,' said Nkomo-Ralehoko. The six-week campaign which is themed 'Lifelong Protection against Measles and Rubella Disease,' comes as Gauteng battles a measles outbreak with more than 370 confirmed cases so far this year with the hardest-hit areas being Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni. 'These are not mere statistics. These are real children who were at risk of facing serious complications if we failed to act now,' she said. She explained that the MR (Measles-Rubella) vaccine is part of the country's regular child immunisation schedule and is typically given at six and 12 months. The campaign is offering a booster dose to strengthen protection and reach children who may have missed their shots. Vaccinations will be administered in schools, crรจches, clinics, taxi ranks, malls and even door-to-door in some communities. Hospitals have also set up additional vaccination points and parents have been issued consent forms through schools. 'Our nurses and health teams are ready. I urge parents, caregivers and guardians to please sign and return the consent forms so we can protect our children,' said Nkomo-Ralehoko. She also spoke about the corner-to-corner campaign, which helps health workers review children's road to health booklets and administer catch-up doses. 'Every missed vaccine is an opportunity for measles to spread. Let us not give the disease a chance,' she said. The MEC appealed to the public and institutions to support the campaign calling on the Gauteng education department, NGOs, faith leaders, private hospitals and universities to join the effort.
