Charlotte Maxeke Hospital CEO responds to shadow health MEC’s statement
PARKTOWN – After the Gauteng shadow health MEC expressed his concerns over cancer patients waiting too long for treatment, Charlotte Maxeke CEO sets a few things straight.
Over the course of last week, Gauteng shadow MEC for health Jack Bloom expressed his concern over the long waiting times for cancer patients at Charlotte Maxeke Hospital.
Bloom referred to figures which he stated had been provided by the hospital’s CEO Gladys Bogoshi. It stated that there are about 300 prostate cancer patients who would wait two years for treatment.
The waiting period for 50 breast cancer patients is between four and six months, and 150 patients for gynaecological and other cancers will wait three to four months.
In response to this Bogoshi said that context was very important and that it should be taken into consideration that there are a whole lot of processes involved when dealing with cancer patients.
“There is radiation oncology where patients are referred to when they are first diagnosed and they are then registered and put on our database. Depending on the type of cancer, specialised surgeons and oncologists will inspect patient and do tests whereafter they will decide on a treatment option,” Bogoshi stated.
She added that the above-mentioned processes were not done within one day as there are a number of patients the hospital has to serve.
“There is a lot of liaison with other departments and thorough inspection needs to be done, however in-between those processes, patients would be started on treatment in an effort to stop cancer spreading,” Bogoshi explained.
She said that theatre could only accommodate a limited number of patients at a time due to the expensive machinery used. “We are committed to serving the community even in the midst of the challenges we face such as the expensive radiology and oncology machines.”
Details: Charlotte Maxeke Hospital 011 355 6138.
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