DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health Jack Bloom raised concerns about the waiting lists for surgery at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital.
A total of 2 448 patients await their surgeries. The figures were revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu in a written reply to Bloom’s questions in the Gauteng Legislature. Mahlangu said that the longest waiting list is to remove cataracts, with 460 patients who will wait about four to five months for their operation.
Other waiting lists and waiting times include gastroscopy with 250 patients waiting for three months, colonoscopy with 180 patients waiting for three months, coronary bypass elective operation with 143 patients waiting for three to four weeks, kidney transplant with 130 patients waiting for six years and orchidopexy with 106 patients waiting from three to six months.
Bloom said that 1492 operations were deferred or cancelled at the hospital last year. “This has increased the frustration of doctors and patients who wish to have their operations as soon as possible,” said Bloom.
Mahlangu said that various surgical procedures are referred to other hospitals and extra theatre lists have been introduced on weekends and holidays to catch up theatre work. “Despite the extra measures, the surgery waiting list has increased by more than 200 patients from 2 246 last year,” said Bloom.
Bloom said that more measures are needed to cut down on long waiting times for surgery at the hospital and that this should include cutting down on avoidable reasons for cancelling operations such as lack of clean linen or equipment.
The Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Steve Mabona said that, the average waiting time for transplant depends on the availability of matching donors. “The waiting list was compounded by shortage of donors in all categories of transplants in the province and prioritization of emergency cases,” said Mabona.
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