GALLERY: Long wait for operations are finally over
AUCKLAND PARK – Doctors at Helen Joseph Hospital spring into action after an additional theatre was built.
It’s all systems go at Helen Joseph Hospital as doctors gear themselves for a busy time as they clear the operations backlog. After a new operating theatre was added to the hospital, doctors started performing operations on patients on 5 October. Some patients had waited up to three years for joint replacement and cataract operations.
Hospital CEO Raymond Billa said that their backlog stood close to 450 operations in June but with the new theatre, six additional operations could now be done daily. “Everyone is motivated for the task at hand and thus far everything has been on track and we don’t foresee any problems as we have all equipment and medicines needed,” Billa said. He added that even though the cataract operations were costly – averaging between R30 000 and R50 000 – they were still within their budget.
He pointed out that the number of operations would be further reduced after an assessment of the patients is done, as some of them did not require to be operated on. According to Billa, 30 operations are expected to be done on a weekly basis going forward, and they will be adding a neurosurgery section at a later stage, but for now, they will still be working with Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital where their patients were being referred to for such procedures.
Dr Kerry Alberto, who is an eye-care specialist at the hospital, said that already 40 cataract operations had thus far been done. Hesse Motaung (43) lived in pain for three years as she waited for the hospital to clear the backlog so that she could get her hip replacement operation.
“I was walking with crutches and I was in immense pain, and had to be looked after as I struggled to stand or sit for long periods of time,” she said. She added that she was glad to have had the operation at last as she could now live an independent life.
Details: Helen Joseph Hospital, 011 489 1011
Related articles:
Wellness day at Helen Joseph Hospital
UPDATE: Fire at Helen Joseph Hospital investigated
