Gauteng Department of Health will be initiating a week long blitz to address surgical backlogs. These backlogs include arthroplasty- a surgical procedure involving knee and hip replacement. The other is cataract concerning vision loss that requires operation.
This will take place at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital from October 5 to October 9.
MEC for Health, Qedani Mahlangu, during her budget vote address in June 2015 said this campaign is done to address the long waiting times for the cataract surgery and arthroplasty.
“In the short-term we will consider holding continuous surgery blitzes.
“This will be spread out through central, tertiary and regional hospitals,” said Mahlangu.
Guests at the launch included Head of Department, Dr Tiego Selebano and Charlotte Maxeke Hospital CEO, Gladys Bogoshi.
The event will be throughout the day on the specified dates.
Con currently, also starting on Monday until Friday October 9, Helen Joseph Hospital (HJH) is establishing its “Move and Walk Week”.
This also an initiative started by the Gauteng Department of Health.
As mentioned by the communications officer at the hospital Mathapelo Nhlapo, the aim is to provide the much needed hip and knee operations to a growing number of patients on the waiting lists.
“Move and Walk Week is a first of its kind for HJH. “The Hospital plans to render five to six operations a day during the five day week.
“A total of 25 – 30 hip and knee operations will be done.
“This will change lives of these patients,” said Nhlapo.
As from October 1, the patients are being admitted to the hospital as part of the routine preparations towards their hip and knee operations.
“The long list of the hip and knee replacements has been as a result of always prioritising the life threatening emergencies over the hip and knee operations, which are largely regarded as non – urgent.
“This has left the patients exposed to ongoing severe suffering and pain,” said Nhlapo.
The hip and knee operations are quite expensive procedures funded from the hospital’s budget and will be managed wholly by the hospital staff under the leadership of the Head Orthopaedic Surgeon.
“This is another way of living up to the hospital’s brand promise: Taking Care of You,” said Nhlapo.
