Statement by EFF on social benefits of alcohol ban and reduction of trauma cases reported at Groote Schuur Hospital
13 April 2020
The EFF notes the unprecedented decrease of trauma cases reported by the renowned Groote Schuur Hospital during the first weeks of the Covid19 National Lockdown. The Hospital has recorded a 66% decrease in trauma cases on weekend to weekend basis which the trauma unit head, Professor Andrew Nicol, has attributed to the ban of alcohol.
The hospital added that this unprecedented decease of cases in the trauma unit provided a great relief for health workers and hospital resources. As a result more time and resources get to be dedicated on patients needing intensive care, operations, and other admissions.
The hospital stated that the Groote Schuur trauma centre usually sees around 1 , 100 patients month and 60% of those are usually there as a result of inter-personal violence and 30% as a result of road accidents. Any rational person must pay attention to this data because the Groote Schuur hospital is one of the largest trauma referral hospitals in the world, with an estimated 12 000 patients being seen in the trauma unit annually.
Since its formation in 1938, over 80 years ago, the hospital has never seen such a decrease in trauma cases. In fact, in February last year, the hospital reported that violence was getting so intense in the Western Cape that trauma specialists had to employ "war-zone" medical strategies in their efforts to save lives. They added that in the past decade alone, trauma cases had increased and injuries were becoming more complex.