- Have clinic communications changed since COVID-19?
No, they are still using the same appointment method which is stricter now because they don’t allow anyone in if you don’t have an appointment. If it’s an emergency they send you to the hospital. In terms of testing for COVID-19, they said their maximum number per day is 20 so if you come after 11 or 12 chances of not getting tested are very high.
- Was your clinic using SMS or WhatsApp to communicate with you before COVID-19? How are text messages and WhatsApp being used to connect you with health providers now?
They have never used SMS, WhatsApp or any electronic method to communicate with us, they give you a date and time then you must come on that time and date however you will leave later during the day even if you get a 10h00am appointment.
3.Did your clinic offer support groups before COVID-19? Have they continued and if yes, are they in person or via phone or WhatsApp?
They used to have support groups and also daycare for children which stopped at the moment, there is no communication shared with the community or patients. When asked about their poor communication they will send you to the suggestion box or municipality to complain
- Are your regular clinic consultations done virtually or do you have to go into the clinic?
You have to go to the clinic on the given date
- Take photos of new clinic signage about support groups, screenshot text messages reminding you about clinic visits or WhatsApp support group invitations. If you happen to visit your healthcare provider this week, take photos of clinic signage about COVID-19 and HIV/TB.
I wasn’t allowed to get into the clinic because we need to follow the COVID protocol however I waited for those who had appointments to get out and had a chat with them. I took down their points. These are their reasons for not helping patients:
- They have lost files
- They don’t want to give the old people pills because they have lost files or they don’t have stocks
- They tell patients to go to Kalafong when they are sick
- They don’t attend to patients at the right time
What’s concerning is that they are also sending people back home.
