Are there examples of professional pairs where one can do the job of the other but not the reverse?

[Kazimiera]

Sounds good. So, in SA, mothers and babies would only see a doctor if either had a really serious condition that, in many cases, would probably require surgery?

Exactly.

Of course, if they have the money, they can go to as many doctors as they want. But for average Joe who can't afford such expensive luxuries, the State system is well-equipped to handle pregnancies and child care.

[Tooting Carmen]

Here you get primary health care nurses who are allowed to prescribe medications like antibiotics, blood pressure medications etc. They can manage your day-to-day health issues. They act completely autonomously. We can do everything from ear cleaning, ECG monitoring, cutting open boils, suturing people who've been in a fight. The aim of these facilities is to take pressure off hospitals and provide accessible care for people in their communities.

The majority of clinics are only run by nurses. They might have a doctor once a week. The rest of the time you do what you're trained to do.

If only the NHS were that intelligent and forward-thinking. Our Accident and Emergency departments are very often overwhelmed, in large part precisely because we have relatively few walk-in clinics like you describe, and even to see a GP or nurse at your registered surgery can be difficult.

As an aside, what would you estimate to be the racial and gender mix for nurses and doctors nowadays in SA? In other threads, I have discussed both in relation to the NHS.

[Kazimiera]

If only the NHS were that intelligent and forward-thinking. Our Accident and Emergency departments are very often overwhelmed, in large part precisely because we have relatively few walk-in clinics like you describe, and even to see a GP or nurse at your registered surgery can be difficult.

As an aside, what would you estimate to be the racial and gender mix for nurses and doctors nowadays in SA? In other threads, I have discussed both in relation to the NHS.

Mostly African, since they are the ones who end up working in rural communities where people only speak an African language. There are also many more males now than 20 years agl.

[Tooting Carmen]

Mostly African, since they are the ones who end up working in rural communities where people only speak an African language. There are also many more males now than 20 years agl.

For doctors or nurses?

[Kazimiera]

For doctors or nurses?

Do we really have to talk about race?