Experiences of facility managers regarding patients' long waiting time at Tshwane health district Community Health Centres

Abstract

Excessive waiting is an annoyance to patients and ather health care users. Lengthy waiting remains a noticeable incumber in Community Health Centres, therefore a thorny public health concern. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe experiences of facility managers regarding patients' long waiting time at Tshwane health district Community Health Centres. A qualitative, explorative, and descriptive research design was conducted. Non-probable, purposive sampling technique tailed the design to access a sample of eight Community Health Centre facility managers in Tshwane health district. Data analysis followed Tesch's eight-step method. Data collection employed in-depth interviews to elicit rich data from participants. Findings revealed negative and positive experiences, contributory factors and pertinent recommendations. Informed by these encounters, recommendations amongst others underscored overhauling the entire records management systems, prioritising vacancy-filling and consistent provision of relevant and functional equipment.