Challenges towards accessing an Employee Health and Awareness Clinic by Gauteng Health Central Office employees

Abstract

Access to health care services remains a huge challenge across the globe. Numerous research initiatives have been undertaken since the Alma-Alta Declaration which was aimed at ensuring that access to health care services is promoted and improved. The aim of this study is to investigate the access to health care services in the Employee Health and Wellness Clinic by the Gauteng Department of Health central office employees. The complex nature of access to health care services is investigated in this study, mainly by looking at the challenges of access to health care services. Qualitative applied research was conducted using collective case studies and person-to-person interviews as well as interview schedules to collect data. Different sampling methods were used to ensure that the participants were representative of the different buildings such as ORB, BOL and 11 Diagonal St., and included the nurses (key informants) that work at the clinic and employees (patients) who accessed the clinic in the past six months. Data analysis was by means of Creswell’s model of data analysis and interpretation. Quality of data was tested through a process called trustworthiness, using four constructs, that is transferability, credibility, conformability and dependability. Ethical considerations included avoidance of harm, informed consent, debriefing of participants, publication of the findings and researcher’s competence. The challenges in accessing health care services from different countries with specific reference to the geographical location of the health care service centres, the financial implications that hinder access to health care services, as well as the structural challenges, the literature review also looked into the legislation that has been put in place to alleviate the challenges in accessing health care services. Lastly the benefits that access to health care offers to employees, with specific reference to productivity and benefits to the employer, such as the reduction of absenteeism. The findings were presented in a thematic analysis. The themes included, accessibility and/or a lack thereof, marketing, management, and recommendations. Findings indicate that access to health care services are hampered by various elements, some of which are beyond the employees’ control. For example, the clinic is awkwardly placed geographically, the clinic is not marketed and as a result many employees are not aware where the clinic is. The clinic does not have adequate equipment to assist as many patients/employees as it should, there is no running water and the toilets are considered to be dirty and unhygienic and result in a bad experience for employees who have access to the clinic. Conclusions include the view that the geographic allocation of the Wellness Clinic is awkward and not conducive to providing proper care to employees who need private and confidential services, due to the noise caused by the security personnel outside the clinic. The fact that the clinic is not well equipped due to lack of proper space, poses a real challenge for the nurses who are expected to offer PHC services. Recommendations include considering relocating the Employee Health and Wellness Clinic to a more accessible area, marketing and advertising the Wellness Clinic should be done on a regular basis, adequate infrastructure such as running water and good lighting must be prioritised as a matter of urgency, management should make sure that a healthy environment is provided as prescribed in the OHS Act of 1993 as amended.