The provincial health department will take over the running of the City’s Heideveld clinic from next month.
The clinic will officially be known as the Heideveld Community Day Centre.
Dr Giovanni Perez, chief director for provincial government metro health services, said the move would ultimately deliver a better, more integrated and efficient health-care service with a person-centred approach.
The clinic is run by staff from both Province and the City.
“As services have evolved and become more integrated, it has been difficult to provide comprehensive quality services in facilities where there are two authorities operating from the same premises which have been confusing patients and staff,” he said.
“The decision for the services at the Heideveld health facility to be provided by a single authority is motivated by a desire to reduce duplication and complexity, and to provide a quality integrated service to the clients we serve.”
The City’s mayoral committee member for community services and health, Patricia van der Ross, said the decision had been taken to rationalise the clinic network to reduce the financial burden and thereby improve service efficiency.
“The City of Cape Town is committed to a smooth handover of Heideveld City Clinic and its services as the health of the community is our number one priority. City Health staff will be placed in other City facilities with existing shortages, including where we previously lost vacancies, as well as where they are needed to improve efficiencies and contribute to strengthening our current service package where required,” she said.
City services include child health immunisations, women’s health, cervical smears, family planning, basic antenatal care, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, TB and HIV screening and testing, as well as patient management. Several facilities offer adult curative services including pharmacy services.
Ms Van der Ross said the public could look forward to added services all under one roof at the clinic such as chronic clubs, access to a social worker, Covid-19 vaccinations, child and women’s health services, integrated management of childhood illness, and curative interventions for under-5s.
Pastor Isaac de Jongh, founder of the Macedonian Revival Community Development Programme in Heideveld, said the community felt that the clinic needed new management.
“Residents are always complaining about the quality of services at the clinic. It will be a major boost for the area, and is something that the community is glad about. Waiting time at the clinic is too long and appointments are also too far apart. Maybe now we will get better services,” he said.
Services will available from Monday to Friday, from 7am to 4.30pm. The facility will be closed over weekends and on public holidays.