25/01/2026
Beste pasiënte
Ek verstaan dat dit uiters frustrerend is om te hoor dat ek (en meeste ander Ginekoloë) vol bespreek is vir nuwe ginekologie pasiënte vir die volgende paar maande.
Laat my asb toe om te verduidelik sodat dit hopelik meer sin maak.
Ek is in privaatpraktyk vir die afgelope 9 jaar en in hierdie tyd het ek meer as 3 000 pasiënte gesien. Ek beskou hulle as “huidige” pasiënte, alhoewel hulle welkom is om enige tyd ‘n ander Ginekoloog te sien.
Ek het net ‘n beperkte hoeveelheid afsprake beskikbaar vir nuwe ginekologie pasiënte per week. Elkeen van hierdie afsprake is 60 minute lank om ‘n volledige geskiedenis, ginekologiese ondersoek en sonar te kan doen.
Die ander afsprake word geallokeer vir:
- huidige swanger pasiënte se opvolge
- huidige ginekologie opvolge
- huidige ginekologie pasiënte wat swanger raak
- nuwe swanger pasiënte
- dringende verwysings vanaf GP’s
- noodgevalle
Tyd word ook geallokeer vir geskeduleerde teater gevalle.
Daar word ook tyd opsy gesit vir admin - terugbel van pasiënte met navrae; nagaan van resultate; verwysingbriewe; verslae vir mediese fondse, ens.
Soms word al die beplanning verstaanbaar omver gegooi deur ‘n bevalling of nood keisersnit. Dan moet die pasiënte se afsprake geskuif word na ‘n ander tydgleuf, wat gewoonlik beteken dat die admin in die slag bly. Dié moet dan na-ure gedoen word, terwyl ek ook op roep is en ‘n gesin van my eie het.
Indien jy vermoed dat jou klagte ‘n meer dringende afspraak as net ‘n “roetine” afspraak regverdig, maak asb eers ‘n afspraak by jou GP. Soms kan hulle jou probleem oplos. As hulle nie kan nie of onseker is, kan hulle my raad vra of motiveer vir ‘n dringende afspraak. Ek besluit dan volgens die klagte of diagnose, hoe dringend die pasiënt gesien moet word.
Ek hoop hierdie help ‘n bietjie om die logistiek van my praktyk beter te verstaan. Ek probeer my bes om soveel as moontlik pasiënte te help met die ure tot my beskikking.
Dankie vir julle volgehoue ondersteuning.
Dr Claudine Smit
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Dear patients
I understand that it is extremely frustrating to hear that I (and most other Gynaecologists) are fully booked for new gynaecology patients for the next few months.
Please allow me to explain so that it hopefully makes more sense.
I have been in private practice for the last 9 years and have seen more than 3 000 patients during this time. I regard them as “current” patients, although they are welcome to see another Gynaecologist at any time.
I have a limited number of available appointments for new gynaecology patients each week. Each of these appointments are 60 minutes long in order to take a detailed history, do a gynaecological examination and a sonar.
The other appointments are allocated to:
- current pregnant patients’ follow-ups
- current gynaecology patients’ follow-ups
- new pregnant patients
- urgent referrals from GP’s
- emergencies
Time is also allocated for scheduled theatre cases.
Time also needs to be allocated for admin - returning calls of patients with queries; checking results; referral letters; reports for medical aids, etc.
Sometimes all this planning is understandably challenged by a delivery or an emergency caesarean section. Then the patients’ appointments need to be moved to another time slot, which normally means that the admin time is sacrificed. This then needs to be done after hours, when I am also on call and have a family of my own.
If you suspect that your complaint warrants a more urgent appointment than a “routine” appointment, make an appointment with your GP first. Sometimes they can solve your problem. If they can’t or if they are unsure, they can ask my advice or they can motivate for an urgent appointment. I then decide based on the complaint or diagnosis, how urgent the patient needs to be seen.
I hope this helps a bit to understand the logistics in my practice better. I am trying my best to help as many patients as possible, with the hours I have available.
Thank you for your continued support.
Dr Claudine Smit
