Protea Glen Clinic

FORMAL COMPLAINT REGARDING SERVICE DELIVERY AND CRITICAL EQUIPMENT SHORTAGES AT PROTEA GLEN CLINIC

To: Gauteng Department of Health / Relevant Clinic Management Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to formally raise a serious concern regarding the ongoing service-delivery problems at the clinic serving the Protea Glen community. On 19.08.2026, I arrived at the clinic at approximately 09:30 for my blood tests. I stood in the queue for approximately two hours, only to be informed that the equipment required to perform the blood-related services was not available. This is extremely frustrating and unacceptable, particularly for patients who have taken time away from work and other responsibilities to attend the clinic and who have already spent hours waiting in the queue. I was also concerned by the apparent shortage of senior nursing staff. Sister Portia came to address the situation, and it appeared that there were only two senior nurses available to deal with a clinic that was already full of patients. At the same time, there appeared to be numerous staff members wearing government uniforms within the facility. I am not making allegations against individual employees. However, as a patient and member of the community, I believe we have a right to understand how staffing is being managed and why patients continue to experience such lengthy queues and inadequate services. I am also concerned about the manner in which queues are managed. Tata Les and Zanele, who are regularly involved in coordinating the queues, have told patients that we should essentially accept the situation because this is a small clinic with only a few nurses. Patients should not be expected to simply accept inadequate healthcare services because the facility is too small or understaffed to serve the community. The clinic appears to be far too small to adequately accommodate the growing population of Protea Glen and the surrounding community. The continued overcrowding, long queues, lack of critical equipment and insufficient service capacity are creating an unacceptable situation for patients. What is particularly concerning is that officials have apparently been sent to inspect or assess the situation previously, yet there has been little or no meaningful improvement. This raises serious questions about whether previous complaints and assessments are being properly followed up. I respectfully request that the Gauteng Department of Health investigate the following: Why critical equipment required for blood-related services was unavailable when patients had already waited for hours. Whether the clinic has adequate equipment and supplies to provide the services expected of it. Whether the clinic has sufficient qualified nursing staff for the number of patients it serves. How staff deployment and duties are being managed during busy clinic hours. The manner in which patient queues are being managed. Whether previous inspections, complaints and assessments have resulted in any corrective action. Whether the current clinic infrastructure is adequate for the size and growth of the Protea Glen community. Whether additional staff, equipment, extended services or a larger healthcare facility are required. What immediate steps will be taken to prevent patients from spending hours in queues only to be turned away because equipment is unavailable. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for a functioning public healthcare service where patients are treated with dignity and where essential equipment, staff and facilities are available to provide the healthcare services that the community depends upon. I request a written response explaining what action will be taken and what measures will be implemented to address these ongoing problems. The residents of Protea Glen deserve a healthcare facility that is properly equipped, adequately staffed and capable of serving the community effectively. I trust that this complaint will be treated seriously and that the matter will be investigated rather than simply recorded and closed without meaningful action.