More than 2 000 operations have been cancelled or deferred at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital since January 2022
Reasons given for operation cancellations include: Deferred for emergency, lack of funds, load-shedding, human resources and etc.
DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom raised concerns in a media statement on May 20 about 2218 operations being cancelled or deferred at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital.
Bloom said the staggering figure was revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to his questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
“A variety of reasons are given for the cancellations, including the following: No ICU/high care beds, deferred for an emergency, load-shedding, low medical air pressure etc.,” said Bloom.
Charlotte Maxeke spokesperson Tabudi Madisha said every cancelled or deferred operation was a concern, not only for their hospital but for the entire public health system.
He added there was a project in place that provided remedial measures for the cancellation of or deferred operations. “The project was initiated to identify and address all the factors impacting theatre efficiency which is coordinated by a public health registrar working with a team of various levels of theatre managers.”
Bloom added there were also patient-related factors such as the patient’s condition, the patient not fasting, invalid consent form, refusal of treatment, did not come, or death before the operation.
“According to Nkomo-Ralehoko, remedial measures include extra training, decentralisation, and strengthening of supply chain management to ensure dependable clinical support.”
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