Helping Moms in Need of Healthcare

The Mitchell's Plain Community Health Care (CHC) facility has recently extended its Day-Time Services to accommodate working women. This initiative forms part of the CHC's role in empowering women during the Department's focus on Women's Health.

Parents who are usually restricted by their working hours now have the opportunity to take their children to Mitchell's Plain Day hospital during 4pm-9pm, Mondays to Fridays. During these extended hours, there will be one clinical nurse practitioner on duty and will be assisted by an enrolled nurse.

The Mitchell's Plain CHC services approximately twenty four thousand (24 000) people every month and the department has, as part of the 2010 comprehensive service plan, allocated that certain larger CHCs be identified to offer extended hours.

Theuns Botha, Western Cape Minister of Health adds: "With women's role in society in the forefront this month, these hours demonstrate our commitment to accommodate working mothers. It is an acknowledgment of the role played by women in our society and how we are trying to accommodate their needs. It adds to the patient's experience of our health services."

During the extended hours patients will only be seen for the immunisation of children, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, pap smears, family planning and adult curative (treatment of minor ailments). All other cases including emergencies will be handled by the trauma unit.

Given the recent extension to the facility, Mitchell's Plain residents can also look forward to the opening of the new trauma centre in September 2010.

The Department of Health wants to emphasis that the extended hours, is about the prevention of disease and empowering clients to follow healthy lifestyles.

Issued by:
Communications Directorate
Western Cape Department of Health