A police escort had to be organised for ambulances to transport a pregnant woman and a heart patient to hospital, as protests turned violent in Helenvale on Monday.
And again on Tuesday, patients had to endure another long wait as armed police officers drove with ambulances into Booysen Park.
Meanwhile, the Rosedale Clinic in Uitenhage has remained closed since Thursday last week, with a meeting scheduled for Wednesday as protests over its services continue.
In Rosedale, members of the community demanded additional staff and better service.
Metro emergency medical services head Brenhan Metune said angry protesters had banned ambulances from entering Helenvale on Monday.
In the past, several ambulances have been damaged during protest action around Nelson Mandela Bay.
Metune said after his staff had managed to obtain a police escort on Monday, they went in to fetch the patients who needed to be taken to hospital. “Both are doing well now.” Metune said emergency services had to negotiate for ambulance access on Tuesday morning as protests spread to Booysen Park.
The Gqebera Clinic in Walmer township was also closed last week after vandals caused severe damage to the property.
Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Lwandile Sicwetsha said the clinic was reopened on Monday after being closed for a week.
He said initial reports that the motive behind the attack was the theft of antiretrovirals had turned out to be false.
“The medication was stolen in an incident prior to the vandalism of the clinic,” he said.
He said Rosedale clinic remained closed and a meeting would be held with community members on Wednesday.