The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health has urged patients to use the province's healthcare referral system correctly, saying it will help ease pressure on Ngwelezana Tertiary Hospital and ensure specialist services remain available for those who need them most.
The appeal comes after Ngwelezana Tertiary Hospital reported a severe shortage of beds, with some patients waiting up to five days to be admitted.
According to an internal notice issued on 7 July, the hospital will now only admit patients requiring specialised medical care. Patients whose conditions can be managed elsewhere are being referred to nearby hospitals, including Eshowe, Mbongolwane and Catherine Booth.
KZN Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane said the referral system is essential to ensuring tertiary hospitals can focus on treating patients with serious and complex medical conditions.
"The key message is that tertiary hospitals are designed for patients with serious and complex medical conditions requiring specialist treatment," Simelane said.
"The challenge is not simply a shortage of beds, but that some patients are coming directly to tertiary facilities when their conditions could first be managed at lower levels of the healthcare system."
She explained that patients should first seek treatment at primary healthcare clinics or district hospitals, where they can be assessed and referred to specialist facilities if necessary.
Speaking on the department's podcast, Simelane said Ngwelezana Hospital has historically treated anyone seeking care because of its location, even when patients did not have the required referral.
She said following the correct referral pathway would help reduce overcrowding, improve patient flow and ensure that specialist hospitals have the capacity to care for those with the most critical and complex medical needs.
The department has appealed to members of the public to work with healthcare providers by using the referral system, saying it is vital to improving access to quality healthcare across the province.