Bishop Lavis Woman Dies Outside Clinic After Allegedly Being Turned Away

A Bishop Lavis woman died outside the local community health facility after allegedly being denied entry while experiencing breathing difficulties. Sylvia Abrahams was dropped off at the Bishop Lavis Community Day Centre (CDC) shortly after 6am on 2 September, according to community activist Gwendoline Allies.

Allies said it was the second occasion on which Abrahams had arrived at the facility requiring oxygen. She claimed Abrahams had previously received assistance through the centre’s 24-hour maternity unit, but alleged that circumstances were different when she returned on 2 September.

According to Allies, security guards prevented Abrahams from entering because the main facility had not yet opened. She was allegedly later informed that there was no oxygen available in the maternity ward, with Abrahams dying before the facility’s normal 7am shift began.

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The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness confirmed that an elderly woman collapsed outside the Bishop Lavis CDC that morning. However, the department said no clinical personnel were on duty when she arrived.

“The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness extends its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones during this difficult time,” the department said.

Bishop Lavis Woman Dies Before Clinic Opens

The department said the Bishop Lavis CDC provides services between 7am and 4pm on weekdays, while the woman was reported to have arrived at about 6am. Staff arriving for duty later found her unresponsive in a wheelchair outside the facility.

“When staff arrived on duty, they found her unresponsive in a wheelchair outside the facility and immediately brought her inside for assessment, where a doctor sadly confirmed her death.”

The department maintained that the facility was closed when Abrahams arrived and that there were no clinical staff available to provide treatment. It said healthcare services could not be delivered without clinical personnel present and therefore patients could not enter before official opening hours.

“Healthcare services cannot be provided when clinical staff are not present. For this reason, members of the public are unable to access the facility before opening hours,” the department said.

People needing urgent medical attention outside the clinic's operating hours were advised to seek assistance at Elsies River Community Health Centre. The facility operates around the clock and is available for after-hours medical emergencies.

Bishop Lavis Residents Raise Concerns Over Patient Treatment

Abrahams’ death has also brought renewed attention to broader complaints about conditions and patient care at the Bishop Lavis facility. Allies alleged that elderly and vulnerable people have previously been left outside in wheelchairs while waiting for services, including during poor weather.

“There have been times when pensioners are sitting in wheelchairs in the pouring rain and they are not allowed to sit inside and everyone who has been here knows the long wait before being helped,” Allies said.

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Residents and the Bishop Lavis Action Community are now preparing to picket outside the facility on Tuesday. The planned protest is expected to highlight a number of concerns that residents say have previously been raised with authorities.

These include complaints about security personnel, communication between healthcare workers and patients, language barriers and problems involving the facility’s folder system. Residents claim these issues can contribute to delays and confusion for people seeking treatment.

Bishop Lavis Clinic Protest To Demand Investigation

Allies and other residents want the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness to examine whether the existing procedures adequately protect patients who arrive shortly before opening time while experiencing medical emergencies. They are also seeking answers over what happened to Abrahams after she arrived at the centre.

The department said it was aware of a video circulating on social media concerning the incident and was assessing all information available to it. It did not indicate that the allegations made by community members had been established.

Counselling and support services have also been made available to Abrahams’ relatives through the Bishop Lavis CDC. The department extended its condolences to the family as questions surrounding the circumstances of her death continue to draw community attention.