A joint decision was made by The City of Cape Town’s Health Department and the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness to integrate the health services offered by the City at the Saxonsea and Protea Park clinics in Atlantis into the health service offered by Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness, said Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health Councillor Patricia van der Ross.
The agreed date for the service handover will be announced in due course. The two clinics to be handed over will provide an integrated primary health-care service package for the community of Atlantis. This is in line with the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness’ Healthcare 2030 plan to streamline the patient journey, create a person-centred approach and improve primary health-care quality.
City Health has offered services to residents of Atlantis for many years, including child health, sexual reproductive health services, basic antenatal care, treatment of sexually transmitted infections, TB and HIV screening and testing and treatment.
With the integration of the clinics the Atlantis community can look forward to a comprehensive package of primary health-care services from the provincial Department of Health and Wellness.
Services will be phased-in and will ultimately include curative services, chronic clubs, access to a social worker, mental-health services on top of the current services provided by City Health.
The City patient folders will become the property of the Western Cape health-care facilities. Services at Saxonsea and Protea Park clinics will operate from Monday to Friday, 07:00 to 16:00. The facilities will be closed over weekends and on public holidays.
Residents of Atlantis can rest assured service delivery will continue uninterrupted and will be available in the same buildings, now only under management of Western Cape Government Health. Existing patient appointments and treatment plans will not be affected, as City-patient folders will be handed to the provincial government’s health-care facilities, and support will be provided by City staff for a seamless handover, according to Dr Giovanni Perez, Head of Metro Health Services for Western Cape Government Health.
“City Health staff will provide support to ensure a smooth transition, as the health of the community is the number one priority,” he said. “We encourage clients accessing services at these facilities to ask for assistance and maintain their appointment schedules as provided by the City clinics. City Health staff will be placed in other City facilities where they are needed to improve service delivery efficiency and contribute to strengthening our current service package.”
