How Health Care Practitioners experience emergencies at Primary Health Care facilities – Kinks in the chain of survival

BACKGROUND: The 72(nd) World Health Assembly has recognised that emergency care at primary health care level is vital for reducing overall mortality and disability. The system of emergency care at this level is affected by various external factors. Little is known about these factors and how they shape the experiences of health care practitioners dealing with medical emergencies in Primary Health Care (PHC) settings. The objective of the study was to explore the experiences of health care practitioners in dealing with emergencies in PHC facilities in the Gauteng province of South Africa. METHODS: A qualitative formative evaluation approach was used. Data were collected using semi structured interviews and analysed using qualitative content analysis to describe the experiences of health care practitioners dealing with emergencies at a primary health care level. Participants included health care practitioners from various levels of the district health system. RESULTS: Major themes that emerged explored challenges faced by health care practitioners, the referral system and influential policy such as the ideal clinic movement.