The department has been under scrutiny for poor services as a result of staff shortages at health facilities, resulting in overcrowded hospitals.

There is also a shortage of ambulances, as well as dilapidated infrastructure.

During the post-Presidential Imbizo engagement, held at the Bloemfontein Civic Theatre earlier this week, the MEC for Health in the province - Montseng Tsiu - said that the Department is waiting on government to release 40 purchased ambulances that will be allocated to various health facilities within the province.

She said this will address the issue of slow responses to emergencies, as well as provide job opportunities.

Tsiu further adds that the Department has tried to implement a strategy that will deal with patients being turned away without assistance due to overwhelming queues at hospitals and clinics.

"People must come through the appointment system. Their files should be retrieved a day before. We have trained our clerks that they should retrieve the files of the patients a day before - especially for those that come for their chronic medication," Tsiu added.

READ MORE: Patients rate Kagisanong clinic ‘most short-staffed clinic' in FS

OFM News previously reported that Kagisanong Clinic in Bloemfontein was rated the most understaffed clinic in the Free State, based on patient responses given to the Ritshidze Healthcare Project. The Hoopstad and Welkom Clinics were ranked the second and third most understaffed clinics by patients in the same report.

READ MORE: Closure of Free State clinic disputed

Meanwhile patients at Mmabana clinic in Phahameng, Bloemfontein, had recently complained about late arrival of a mobile clinic. This followed after inspectors from the Department of Labour had deemed the main building unsafe and closed it.

OFM News