The festive season in the Western Cape has once again placed immense pressure on public health services, with Emergency Centres across the province reporting over 130,000 patient admissions between 15 December 2025 and 14 January 2026, Cape town Etc reports.
The peak holiday period, marked by significant population movement and festive celebrations, has led to a surge in emergencies, underscoring the critical demand for healthcare services during this time of year.
A comprehensive analysis of the data reveals that Emergency Medical Services EMS responded to over 47,000 incidents, contributing to a staggering total of more than 177,000 emergency cases managed by the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness throughout the festive period.
