These figures were provided by the Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu on 2 June in a written reply to Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng MPL and shadow MEC for health.
Mahlangu explained that the long waiting times were caused by the prioritisation of emergency cases, the shortage of equipment and ICU beds, limited theatre capacity and donor shortages for liver transplants.
In an effort to shorten the waiting lists, some operations are currently being performed at the Edenvale and Tambo Memorial hospitals, while minor operations are being referred to cluster hospitals, she said.
Mahlangu added that the cancellation of 355 operations at the hospital last year had also added to the backlog, and earlier this year, surgery was halted due to a shortage of clean linen.
Mahlangu explained that 1 500 patients were currently waiting for a kidney transplant, which could take up to six years; while 100 patients were still waiting for a liver transplant. The waiting time for liver transplant patients is currently much better, being six months to a year.
Mahlangu added that 50 patients were currently in line for coronary bypass surgery which could have a six- to 18-month wait.
Bloom explained that other operations were performed much quicker, “… seven breast cancer patients are currently waiting for surgery, which can take two weeks,” he said.
Bloom added that there was no waiting time for head and neck reconstruction after cancer resection.
“I am encouraged that a cleft palate is done in a waiting time of one month at this hospital as patients can wait for nine years at the Steve Biko Hospital. The highest priority should be to send some of the 395 patients who wait nine years for a cleft palate at Steve Biko Hospital to Charlotte Maxeke for their operations,” he said.
Bloom added that more effort was needed to get organ donors.
He concluded that waiting times varied widely at different hospitals in Gauteng, and that a provincial registry would assist in reassigning certain patients for surgery.
Filler: Do you think that it is fair for patients to wait that long for emergency surgery? Tweet us your comments on @RK_Gazette
