Seek the level of care you need in the third wave

As Covid-19 cases in the country, and particularly in Gauteng, continue to rise, Netcare urged the public to adhere to Covid-19 prevention measures and seek help early if they are unwell.

“We continue to monitor the situation closely and adjust its strategy to make the most effective use of healthcare resources wherever needed, while maintaining an abundance of caution,” said Jacques du Plessis, MD of the entity’s hospital division.

“With our experience of the first and second waves, our hospitals are well equipped and can quickly maximise capacity with a strong emphasis on safety to keep healthcare services operating as effectively and efficiently as possible for all patients.

“Although the situation remains fluid, at present facilities in Gauteng are under pressure. Facilities in all other provinces remain on high alert, but for now, have not yet seen a surge in Covid-19 admissions.

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“We echo the president’s call for every person to do their part towards flattening the curve of the third wave by maintaining social distancing, the appropriate wearing of masks, avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated areas, washing hands regularly and thoroughly, and self-isolating if you may have been exposed to the virus.

“Flattening the curve of the third wave and seeking healthcare from a general practitioner early if you or a loved one starts to feel unwell will go a long way towards improving individual health outcomes in many cases, and preventing bottlenecks in accessing emergency care at this critical time,” he said.

If you start to feel unwell, contact your GP for a virtual or in-person consult immediately.

“Medicross medical and dental centres have put extensive precautions in place to keep patients, healthcare professionals and staff as safe as possible, so that they don’t have to be concerned when accessing primary healthcare services,” said Dr Billy van der Merwe, MD of Netcare’s primary care division.

To further support patients during the pandemic, Netcare VirtualCare GP consultations are available with many GPs at Medicross so patients can consult a general practitioner over the phone or via a secure video link, either on mobile devices or computers, to keep patients in contact with doctors without the need for in-person consultations.

“In the case of an individual who is concerned they may have Covid-19, for example, the doctor may ask specific questions to assess your risk, advise whether you need to be tested for Covid-19 and give you a referral to a pathology laboratory for testing to be done.

“Centres have rigorous preventative precautions in place. This includes, for example, pre-screening, disinfection and air purification units with three modes of protection, virus-destroying filtration, sterilising UV-C light and powerful photocatalytic oxidation air purification technology that neutralises pathogens safely,” said van der Merwe.

Unsure if it is a medical emergency?
“It is always better to be safe than sorry if you suspect you may be experiencing a medical emergency, and in the case of Covid-19 unfortunately many patients appear to be waiting too long to access healthcare, even when they are having a medical emergency,” said Shalen Ramduth, national operations director of Netcare 911.

“If you are ever unsure of the level of medical care you need, the Netcare 911 national emergency operation centre (EOC) is equipped and ready to provide expert assistance in determining what steps may be necessary, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 082 911.

“The EOC has trained emergency medical personnel available to support callers with telehealth patient remotely. This can be significant for clinical decision making and help in the co-ordination of resources to safely transport the patient to hospital where needed.”

Emergency medical attention
If an individual experiences difficulty breathing or any other signs that could indicate a medical emergency, emergency medical services are there to provide the necessary assistance which could be lifesaving.

Patients requiring urgent care at hospital emergency departments are triaged and assisted as soon as possible. Alternatively, they may be referred to other facilities as we continue to work closely with all parties in the best interests of patients.

“As part of our disaster management planning, we have commissioned temporary Clinical Decision Units (CDUs) at certain hospitals in Gauteng to accommodate additional emergency patients.

“These CDUs proved very helpful in the second wave to ease the burden on the emergency departments and to enable the stabilisation of patients prior to hospitalisation,” du Plessis added.
Information supplied by Netcare.

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Marietta Lombard (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,  or (Journalists) Busi Vilakazi busiv@caxton.co.za