City of Cape Town officials have leaked secret plans for the closure of two Mitchells community health facilities to the Daily Voice.
The Daily Voice asked the City about fears that the Eastridge Clinic and Rocklands Clinic may shut their doors in June 2022, and they confirmed a “process” was under way.
Councillor Patricia van der Ross, Mayoral Committee Member for Community Service and Health said: “A consultative process is under way on how best to consolidate health services in the interest of the communities.
“This is being done in consultation with the Western Cape Health Department.
“This process to re-evaluate the services is ongoing, and no final timelines have been decided.”
But staff workers at these facilities say they had been called into a meeting in October 2021 to inform them of the closure of the clinics.
A healthcare worker at Rocklands Clinic, on the corner of Lancaster and Park Avenue, says she is upset that the City would consider closing the clinic as poor people depend on the free health service.
The staff member, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The community is in need of these services including family planning, basic antenatal care, sick children, immunisation and HIV and TB patients rely on treatments.
“They (City) have been threatening to take staff away as we don’t see enough clients, but this is not true as we are busy every day.
“We can work at other clinics so we won’t lose our jobs, but part of my role as healthcare worker is to advocate for our patients.
“Clients are financially not able to take a taxi to go to another clinic.
“We have clients who don’t even have money for food, so how will they travel to other areas for healthcare?”
The employee also said that City must include the community in the current discussions.
“Why has there not been residents’ involvement? No surveys? The residents are not supposed to know. We must keep the process quiet.”
Another anonymous City official added: “Being a community leader, I have heard about the closure and because I work for City, I am unable to answer the questions that residents are asking me.
“I know about the closure, but I’m not allowed to discuss anything with the residents at this stage.”
The City, however, assured that there will be community engagement at a later stage.
Councillor Van der Ross said: “It is important to note that there will be community engagement once there is greater clarity on the way forward.”