Africa-Press – South-Africa. Cape Town – With the increase in hospitalisations due to the second wave of Covid-19 infections, the Western Cape Government has made a number of changes to its current health service delivery offering.
Among those is the news that the Western Cape Health Department has restricted in-hospital visits. Non-urgent outpatient appointments will be postponed and patients given alternative dates.
Patients who are in hospital but stable will be discharged for further management at home or at a step-down facility, and non-urgent elective surgery will be postponed and patients provided with a later date.
Outreaches from district and regional hospitals will also be suspended.
The Health Department has also urged patients to only access emergency centres for listed emergencies, and that patients with non-emergencies should access health-care services at the nearest clinic.
Listed emergency services that will continue are:
Amended services at clinics:
The provincial Health Department said that patients were encouraged to make an appointment before visiting a health-care facility by calling their local clinic.
Patients in the Cape metro can also access the Pocket Clinic Telehealth Service from their cellphones (WhatsApp) by sending “Hi” to 087 240 6122.
“Only visit the clinic or hospital emergency centre when you really have to. Coronavirus spreads where people gather, including at public health facilities. Always wear a clean cloth mask over your mouth and nose, and keep a distance of 1.5m from other people,” the department said.
Stay safe tips:
Cape Argus
