Poor service at provincial hospitals has long been a concern in South Africa, with reports of patients dying in passages and critically ill people receiving neither care nor medication.

Hermanus Provincial Hospital faced similar criticism on 21 September after a patient waited for service for more than an hour at the admissions counter.

The patient, who shared their experience on Facebook, said a notice placed at the counter by the clerk read: “On break – back at 03:25.” The clerk had still not returned at 04:33, and only appeared at approximately 04:36 – an hour and 11 minutes after the stated return time.

“This is not a shop where somebody can simply come back tomorrow. This is a hospital. People arriving at this time in the morning may require urgent medical attention,” the patient wrote.

Health Department answers

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness confirmed it was aware of the social media post and said hospital management had launched an internal review to verify the authenticity of the post and establish the circumstances surrounding the allegation.”We understand how frustrating this experience may be for patients seeking care and take concerns that could affect service delivery seriously. Appropriate action will be taken based on the outcome of the review. We remain committed to providing respectful, patient-centred care and addressing concerns promptly,” said Phiwe Phillips, communication officer of the Overberg District Health department.