PATIENTS at New Brighton Clinic in Port Elizabeth were turned away on Friday.
This happened when nurses at the clinic were allegedly celebrating their year end party. The SunTeam was met by patients waiting at the clinic gate.
Security guards showed the patients a notice at the gate stating that the clinic was closed.
It read: “Staff at the clinic are having their end year function on 8 December.
“Therefore the clinic will be closed at 11am. All emergencies to go to Tshangana Clinic.”
A patient (47) told Daily Sun he arrived at the clinic at 6.30am as he wanted to get his treatment early.
“But I was told by guards there was no clinic that day. They had locked the gate. I’m disappointed because the nurses should have warned us a long time ago,” said the patient.
“I was here on Tuesday and I wasn’t helped because the queue was too long, and there was no notice. I decided to come back today, but I am being turned away.
“I don’t understand why they chose to celebrate their party during working hours instead of after work. This is poor service delivery and it’s affecting us. ”
Lindelwa Gotyana (36) said: “I came here for family planning but I am being turned away.”
Provincial health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said: “This is not acceptable.
“We’ve asked the district manager to attend to this allegation.”
