ArticleSouth African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care2025
Non-urgent patients in emergency centres in Western Cape district health services.
Article in South African family practice : official journal of the South African Academy of Family Practice/Primary Care, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Navigating inhabited institutionalism: A framework for electrocardiogram workshops in teaching hospitals.African journal of emergency medicine : Revue africaine de la medecine d'urgence · 2026Article
- Core functions of primary care in Amathole District, South Africa: a descriptive study.BJGP open · 2025Article
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundNon-urgent patients are frequently found in emergency centres (ECs) and contribute to prolonged waiting times, overcrowding, high workloads and reduced quality of care. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of lead clinicians regarding patient attendance at ECs with non-urgent conditions in Western Cape district, South Africa.
methodsAn exploratory descriptive qualitative study in which semi-structured interviews with 19 family physicians and one emergency medicine specialist from 11 district hospitals and four community health centres were conducted.
resultsKey reasons for non-urgent patients to attend the EC were a lack of access to primary care, poor understanding of emergencies and health services, issues related to work and transport, referral by general practitioners, being seen quicker, preference for a doctor, dissatisfaction with primary care and worries about confidentiality. The effects were seen as reduced quality of care for urgent and non-urgent patients, overcrowding, reduced staff morale, many complaints as well as abusive behaviour, manipulation of the triage system, longer triage and waiting times.
conclusionAction should be taken to: strengthen the primary care platform through better access, coverage and quality of care; educate communities and general practitioners; harness digital technology and telehealth; change the way emergency medical services operate and ensure adequate staffing of ECs. Alternative methods for offering primary care should be evaluated.Contribution: This article discusses the reasons for, effects of, and possible solutions to the problem of non-urgent patients attending ECs. Further studies may explore the perspectives of patients and medical officers.
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