Local newsNews
355 ops cancelled last year at Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital
JOBURG - The Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu revealed that 355 operations were cancelled at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital last year.
Most medical operations were cancelled due to time constraints, lack of ICU beds, equipment shortages and no clean linen.
The major reasons for cancellations were as follows:
- Time constraints: 110
- Under-prepared patients: 62
- Non-availability of ICU and high care beds: 41
- Equipment shortage: 25
- Linen shortage: 15
- Drug shortage: 6
Mahlangu said only seven operations were cancelled because patients did not show up.
“It is clear that most of these cancellations could have been avoided with better management and availability of resources,” said Mahlangu.
According to Mahlangu, the high number of cancellations adds to the long waiting list of 2 246 patients for medical operations at this hospital. There have been further incidents this year of cancelled operations due to linen shortages and the breakdown of air-conditioning in the medical theatres.
