Further sustaining the roll-out of its Health Hub stores, Dis-Chem is emphasising the central role of clinic nurses in the delivery of primary healthcare by creating auxiliary nurse positions to provide supporting care to patients.
This will see dedicated care assistants handle appropriate supporting tasks, freeing nurses to practise to the full extent of their clinical expertise and scope.
“Nurses play a vital role that goes beyond basic screening, vaccinations and taking vital signs. Within the nurse-led Health Hub model, auxiliary nurses can perform routine measurements and tests, freeing clinic nurses to focus on in-depth clinical assessments, personalised care guidance and referrals where appropriate. This approach strengthens primary healthcare delivery, with nurses serving as an accessible first point of care and helping us reach more consumers efficiently and affordably,” says Lizeth Kruger, Clinic Executive at Dis-Chem.
Dis-Chem’s Health Hub integrates a clinic, pharmacy, and medical insurance services into a single location. This one-stop destination allows customers to access expert care, medical advice, and wellness products in a single, seamless visit. Every interaction supports the group’s core mission: to restore, maintain, and improve the health of South Africans. Dis-Chem introduced this healthcare-focused concept at its Melrose Arch launch in May, with plans to expand the model across its national footprint.
Auxiliary nurses will be responsible for supporting basic clinic-related functions, such as taking and recording basic vitals, assisting with clinic administration, supporting the consent procedure and related documentation and assisting with patient flow and general clinic support activities.
“The addition of auxiliary nurses to the stores is an essential step in the expansion of clinic capacity to provide maximum efficiency and a more intuitive clinic experience to our customers. With this approach, the clinic nurse will remain responsible for clinical oversight, professional nursing duties, patient assessment, clinical decision-making, and ensuring that all services are delivered within the correct professional and regulatory framework,” says Kruger.
As the Health Hub rollout continues, Dis-Chem anticipates increasing nursing capacity by adding two to three auxiliary nurse positions per store.
“We are seeing an ever-growing demand for nurse consultations across our network of stores, and we see this as an important step in increasing access, affordability and capacity within the communities we serve. Beyond healthcare support, the operational structure of this initiative enables and supports job creation and career progression in nursing which is a critical component of overall healthcare delivery in South Africa,” concludes Kruger.
