SURGICAL CRISIS AT JOBURG HOSPITAL
Acute staff and equipment shortages are leading to the cancellation of about 100 operations a week at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
There are 21 vacancies (32%) in the 65 posts in the Department of Anaesthesia, and other departments are similarly short-staffed.
The hospital is now refusing all transfers of trauma cases from other hospitals, and doctors warn that only one major resuscitation can be done a time. Currently, the trauma unit receives about 50 major resuscitations (i.e. major threat to life) per week, so survival of patients is prejudiced.
Doctors warn that open-heart surgery cannot be done safely due to the non-availability of surgical headlights. One surgeon has resorted to using a camping headlight for paediatric cardiac surgery.
Operations are often delayed or cancelled because of shortages of essential items like gloves or sterilised gowns and linen.
The cancellations have resulted in an increased waiting list of four weeks for breast cancer patients, a delay that can be life-threatening.
Equipment shortages are due to budget cuts and unpaid suppliers.
Skilled people have applied for posts, but are not hired because of a staff moratorium in place since the beginning of this year.
Health MEC Hope Papo must urgently resolve the surgical crisis at this leading hospital that is trying desperately to have an acceptable standard of patient care.
Statement by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, August 8 2012
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