We need your help to reduce pressure on our emergency centre

Healthcare workers in the Emergency Centre (EC) at the Karl Bremer Hospital are asking for the public’s help to reduce pressure on the facility.

The EC is currently under severe pressure due to an influx of people accessing healthcare. Due to an increase in the number of patients visiting the EC, residents may experience a longer waiting time.

Karl Bremer Hospital, like all other Western Cape Government Health hospitals, follows the triage system. This means that when patients enter a facility, they are assessed and triaged to ensure that they are seen according to the degree of urgency their condition requires. Patients are triaged green, yellow, orange or red, with red representing being the most urgent cases. Patients triaged yellow and green who does not requiring life-saving intervention could have a much longer waiting time if visiting the hospital’s emergency centre.

Hospital CEO Jonathan Lucas explains: “We are ready to help all residents who need healthcare, however, there are patients with life-threating conditions that require urgent care. We appeal to all residents who are experiencing minor ailments to access healthcare at their nearest day hospital or clinic. This can assist in alleviating service pressure at your district hospital, and they may also have a shorter waiting time than when going to a hospital.”

We have many patients attempting to access care in the EC for conditions that can be managed very well at a primary care level. Examples would include influenza, common viral illnesses, minor upper and lower respiratory illnesses, chronic pain, requests for pregnancy tests, requests for insurance medical blood tests, X-rays and urinary tract infections.

There are at least 16 primary healthcare facilities in the Northern and Tygerberg district. If you are experiencing minor ailments or need healthcare support, you can visit your doctor or access support from any of these facilities at no cost. You can also access mental health support from mental health nurses at your primary health facilities.

• Durbanville CDC
• Metro Men’s Health Centre
• Bothasig CDC
• Kraaifontein CHC (24-hour facility)
• Scottsdene CDC
• Bellville South CDC
• Bishop Lavis CDC
• Delft CHC (24-hour facility)
• Elsies River CHC (24-hour facility)
• Goodwood CDC
• Parow CDC  
• Ravensmead CDC
• Reed Street CDC
• Bellville Reproductive Health Centre
• Ruyterwacht CDC
• Symphony Way CDC

Please help us to reduce the service pressure on our hospital’s emergency centre, so that our healthcare teams can treat those who need life-saving interventions first. We thank you for your cooperation and support.