32 000 Gauteng patients on surgical waiting list
This backlog was blamed on various factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic and an exodus of skills to the private sector and overseas.
Around 32 000 patients are on waiting lists for various surgical procedures at public hospitals in Gauteng, it was revealed this week.
This backlog was blamed on various factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic and an exodus of skills to the private sector and overseas.
The majority of the procedures were elective surgeries, according to Gauteng health spokesperson Motalatale Modiba.
“The waiting period ranges from weeks and months for some procedures like caesarean sections, hernia repairs, cataract, knee replacements; a year or more for procedures such as hip replacement, urethra structural, knee arthroplasty, implants and up to 10 years for organ transplant – dependent on donor availability and type of case.”
Modiba said to clear the current surgical backlogs, the health department would fast-track critical surgeries and advanced medical procedures.
In Tshwane, Dr George Mukhari and Steve Biko academic hospitals would also fast-track procedures for patients waiting for surgery.
He said measures being implemented to ensure procedures were prioritised were:
– regular departmental theatre marathons
– utilisation of cluster hospital theatres and collaborations
– filling of critical vacant posts
– minimising disruptions at facilities
Some of the factors that have contributed to the surgical backlogs include:
– the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic that pushed back the waiting list significantly
– delays in the procurement of specialised machinery from outside the country due to Covid-19 restrictions
– delays in the maintenance and renovations of clinical areas
– an exodus of skills to the private sector and foreign countries
– the filling of critical posts
Modiba said George Mukhari was now addressing surgical backlogs through the following:
– theatre marathons such as the cataract marathons
– increased utilisation of theatres at Odi, Brits and Jubilee hospitals
– filling of vacant anaesthetic, surgical medical posts
He said Steve Biko would fast-track the procedures for in-patients that were waiting for surgery and also perform surgical marathons for cataracts weekly, while tertiary hospitals such as Tembisa and Kalafong were conducting daily surgical operations as per the availability of theatres.
Modiba said the tertiary hospitals were conducting cataract blitzes to reduce backlogs.
MEC for Health and Wellness Nkomo-Ralehoko said: “We have set in place a programme to address the various challenges that have contributed to the growing list of surgical backlogs.
“Some of the measures are short term whilst others will take longer.”
She said the government was also addressing load-shedding concerns.
“Government is looking at several interventions, which include exemption of health care facilities from load shedding, ensuring that all facilities have well-maintained generators, the security of diesel supply and the installation of rooftop solar,” Nkomo-Ralehoko said.
She said the security cluster and community structures, including CPFs, clinic committees and hospital boards had a key role to play in addressing load-shedding and opportunistic crime.
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