1319 WAIT FOR OPS AT JOBURG HOSPITAL

1319 patients are on the waiting lists for operations at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

This is revealed in a written reply by Gauteng Health MEC Hope Papo to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

Heart surgery is worst affected, with 268 adult patients and 187 child patients waiting as long as four years for operations.

Other waiting lists are as follows:

Total knee replacement - 192 patients

Paediatric surgery - 200 patients

Total hip replacements - 153 patients

Ear, Nose and Throat - 150 patients

Neurosurgery - 120 patients

Spine operations - 49 patients

According to Papo, 228 operations were cancelled this year because of a shortage of anaesthetists and other medical staff, over-booked lists due to high patient load, and lack of material resources, including specialised equipment and intensive care beds for post-operative patients.

After an outcry by doctors earlier this year the staffing situation has improved at the hospital, but special measures must to taken to reduce these huge surgery backlogs.

I am particularly concerned that the specialised equipment shortage that delays heart surgery be fixed as soon as possible.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Health Spokesman, December 4 2012

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