SCORES of residents of Moutse in Limpopo are frustrated and angry with the local hospital for turning them away whenever they go for consultation

They say they are now forced to rely on a "useless" mobile clinic that comes once a week.

Villagers from Moteti said they were being turned away by Philadelphia Hospital staff and referred to the mobile clinic that comes on Mondays only - and without enough medication.

Sometimes they queue for more than six hours in bad weather conditions while waiting for the mobile clinic, which always arrives long after the prescribed 8am.

At times they get told at about noon that the mobile clinic will not be coming.

Sowetan yesterday visited the mobile clinic which is accommodated at the Siyanqoba Home Based Care Centre about 6km from the hospital - at about 6.45am.

Pregnant women and those with newborn babies camped outside the locked gates.

Some had been there since 4am to avoid having to queue for hours or being turned away without receiving treatment.

This time the clinic, manned by two nurses without a doctor, arrived at about 10am.

The nurses immediately complained about the long queue and went on to cut the queue of pregnant women and that of mothers with babies.

Spokesperson for the provincial department of health, Joe Maila, said "late coming by staff is unacceptable".

"If they tell people to arrive at 8am, they should be there and ready to work. We are not doing people any favours. It is their right to get treatment."

Maila could not believe that such service was provided on Mondays only. "If I get sick on Tuesday, does it means that I have to wait for treatment the following week?" he asked.

He said the matter would be investigated and if the allegations were true, "the situation must immediately be improved".

After noticing the presence of Sowetan the nurses decided to attend to all those present and only sent a handful home at 4pm.

Some blood pressure and diabetes patients told Sowetan they were only given tablets, without being examined.

Segopotso Tsokela, 91, who arrived at the clinic at about 4.30am, told Sowetan the poor service at the mobile clinic was no different from that at Philadelphia Hospital.

"Before I was referred to the clinic I used to queue as early as 3am and go home at about lunch time. Today, my blood pressure was not checked. I was given medication and told that there were too many patients who needed attention."

Lucas Bafete, 69, who accompanied his two great-grandchildren, said they arrived at 4am and were still waiting for their vaccination at about noon.

"We found other people already queueing and they are still waiting," he said.