Bishop Lavis clinic patients queue from 5am amid safety concerns

Patients at Bishop Lavis Community Health Centre are lining up outside the clinic from 5am, a full two hours before it opens its doors. Community leaders warn that the long waits expose vulnerable residents, like the elderly, mothers with infants and those in wheelchairs, to safety risks in the dark and inclement weather. Graham Lindhorst, chair of the Bishop Lavis Community Police Forum and a member of the Tygerburg Subdistrict Health Forum, confirms the early-morning lines are regular, with residents having no choice but to queue in front of the facility from 5am until it opens at 7am.

He highlights the area's dangerous nature during those hours, leaving patients exposed to potential dangers. Despite raising these concerns with the Department of Health for years, Lindhorst says no resolution has been reached. A community protest occurred in September after a woman died outside the clinic due to inability to receive care.

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness acknowledges the patients' discomfort but maintains that allowing them to wait outside without staff present is unsafe. The facility operates from 7am to 4pm, with maternity services available 24/7. Patients are currently waiting over three hours on average, though the department says it is working to improve patient flow and service delivery to cut down wait times.

They prioritize patients based on medical urgency, giving top priority to older individuals, mothers, babies, and those with disabilities, and encourage those with appointments to use the appointment system to reduce outdoor queues.