Plans on track to ensure a smooth handover for Protea Park and Saxon Sea clinics

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness (WCGHW) and City of Cape Town (CoCT) have continued joint efforts to ensure plans remain on track for a smooth service handover of the Saxon Sea and Protea Park Clinics in Atlantis on the first working day of April this year. 

The transition process has involved technical and logistical work such as transferring patient appointments, conversion of health information management systems and proper equipping of both facilities for expanded service packages.  To ensure a smooth transition and that the operational staff changes are accommodated, the increase in the package of services provided will be PHASED.  This means that in the immediate period following the handover, the services rendered will be a continuation of the current services provided at both clinics.  These are as follows: 

Protea Park Clinic (to be renamed Protea Park Community Day Centre)

Child Health

• Well Baby services: weighing, Expanded Programme for Immunisation, Neuro-developmental screening.
• Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses

Women’s Health

• Family Planning
• Cervical Screening
• Basic Antenatal Care (three times a week)

TB, HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health Services

Chronic Disease Management (three days a week)

• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Asthma
• Epilepsy

To date, 3337 patients have been transferred to this integrated adult chronic care service for stable chronic patients. 

Saxon Sea Clinic (to be renamed Saxon Sea Community Day Centre)

Child Health

• Well Baby services: weighing, Expanded Programme for Immunisation, Neuro-developmental screening
• Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses

Women’s Health

• Family Planning
• Cervical Screening
• Basic Antenatal Care (daily)

TB, HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health Services

All patients in need of urgent lifesaving medical care can access the Emergency Centre at Wesfleur Hospital.

The planned phasing in of additional primary health care service over a six-to-eight-month period for both clinics include:

• CDU parcel collection for all CDU patients at distribution sites
• ART clients’ clinical visits
• Full time mental health services
• Increased package of primary Health Care services such as wound care, dressings, minor trauma and acute illness.

Our efforts to improve healthcare services for our patients in Atlantis remains a high priority.  We are pleased to announce that the recruitment processes for staff to render services at Protea Park and Saxon Sea clinics have been concluded.

“The City Health and Provincial Government have offered health services to residents of Atlantis and surrounding areas for many years. We welcome the amalgamation of services and look forward to offering a more comprehensive healthcare service to our vulnerable communities, which will eventually assist in easing the burden placed on our district hospital,” says Ms Patti Olckers, Acting Chief Director for Western Cape Government Metro Health and Wellness Services.

Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services & Health, City of Cape Town, Councillor Patricia Van Der Ross shares: “The completion of the handover process signals a new beginning for the clinics, and the residents who have come to rely on these facilities. The City is confident that the provincial Health and Wellness Department will pick up the baton in expanding the basket of services to the community, in line with its mandate. I also want to thank the City staff members who have so diligently served the community, and wish them well as they embark on a new journey at the City facilities that they’ve been transferred to.”

Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Professor Nomafrench Mbombo, added that, “We have been on a journey with the residents of the Atlantis community in realigning the healthcare services in the area. With the handover having concluded, we look forward to working closely with all stakeholders in expanding the basket of services for our residents. This will not only strengthen primary healthcare services for Atlantis, but will improve service delivery for the system in the community. I am deeply appreciative of the collaborative process that has taken place between the Department of Health and Wellness as well as the City of Cape Town.”

Our focus on improving service delivery and providing a comprehensive package of care in close partnership with our wellness hubs to the broader Atlantis community remains our priority.  We encourage patients to maintain their appointment schedules as provided by the current COCT clinics and Department of Health and Wellness services in the near future. 

We wish to commend and thank our partners in WCGHW and COCT as well as our community stakeholders who have all contributed to this successful transition.  We look forward to strengthening our relationships for continued collaboration.