Gauteng runs ‘surgery marathons’

In an effort to clear the surgery backlogs at the province’s hospitals, the Gauteng department of health says it has prioritised the fast-tracking of critical and advanced medical procedures.

Regular departmental theatre marathons, use of cluster hospital theatres and collaborations, filling of critical vacant posts, and minimising disruptions at facilities through contingency plans are among the measures to ensure that as many procedures as possible can be carried out.

The province has more than 32,000 public hospital patients on waiting lists.

“Clinicians have to strike a balance between elective and life-saving procedures that cannot wait,” the department said.

The waiting period ranges from weeks to months for some procedures such as hernia repairs, cataract removals, knee replacements; a year or more for procedures such as hip replacements, urethral stricture, knee arthroplasty, and implants; and up to 10 years for organ transplants, which depend on donor availability and type of case.

“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 while others will take longer,” Gauteng health and wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said.

Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital’s surgical cases, such as cataracts, orthopaedics, urology and organ transplants are performed at several cluster hospitals.

Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital is tackling surgery backlogs with departmental theatre marathons, increasing the use of cluster hospital theatres such as those at Odi, Brits and Jubilee hospitals, and by filling vacant anaesthetic, surgical and medical posts.

Steve Biko Academic Hospital is fast-tracking procedures for inpatients waiting for surgery and performs cataract surgery marathons on a weekly basis.

Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital is using the cluster system and Saturdays to deal with the backlog, on a rotational basis. It has started brachytherapy for urology to reduce cancer patient backlogs.

Tertiary hospitals such as Tembisa and Kalafong do daily surgical operations according to the availability of theatres, and have cataract blitz weeks.

The Gauteng health department said among the factors contributing to surgical backlogs are Covid-19, which pushed back the waiting list significantly, delays in the procurement of specialised machinery outside SA due to Covid-19 restrictions, delays in the maintenance and renovation of clinical areas, an exodus of skilled staff to the private sector and foreign countries, and filling of critical posts.

“We are on an aggressive drive to recruit,” NkomoRalehoko said.

On load-shedding, she said “the government is looking at a number of interventions, which includes exemption of healthcare facilities from loadshedding, ensuring that all facilities have well maintained generators, the security of diesel supply and installation of rooftop solar.”