Surgery backlog crisis in NW Department of Health worsens

26 July 2023

In response to a DA written question, the North West MEC for Health, Madoda Sambatha revealed that the Provincial Department of Health is facing a mounting surgery backlog crisis with 9 111 patients on waiting lists to undergo elective surgery in regional and tertiary hospitals throughout the province.

The ophthalmic surgery case backlog showed the highest increase in North West by 312% from 911 cases recorded during the 2018/19 financial year to 3 756 cases in 2022/23. Orthopaedic surgeries increased by 61% from 1 304 cases to 2894 in 2022/23, and the case backlog for general surgery increased by 57% from 334 cases to 524 cases.

While the Department of Health confirms the significant waiting list for various elective surgical procedures it indicated that the surgery backlog across all disciplines are set to increase due to a rise in the average life expectancy of patients. This is indicative of a Department of Health that is unable to deliver quality medical services to an increase in demand.

Clearly the Department knows what contributes to the rise in the surgery backlog, but has no intention to respond effectively to reduce extended waiting lists.

The DA will write to Health MEC Sambatha, requesting that he urgently table an implementable action plan to reduce the provincial surgery backlog in North West. We will also propose actionable interventions that will assist to reduce the backlog. These include the recruitment and appointment of qualified medical professionals and specialists and the introduction of surgery marathons.

The Department should also prioritise renovations and repairs to operating theatres currently closed and consider the reopening and recommissioning of unused theatres in community health centres, clinics and hospitals.

In addition, the DA will also write to the North West Finance MEC, Motlalepula Rosho, requesting that the current backlog of surgical cases be declared a provincial Medical Emergency so that additional funding could be released under Section 25 of the Provincial Financial Management Act (PFMA) to reduce the current backlog.

The DA governed Western Cape’s Department of Health launched a Surgical Recovery project at Groote Schuur Hospital last year and it slashed its surgery backlog by 1 500 elective surgeries – two months ahead of schedule. A similar project was successfully launched at the Karl Bremer Hospital.

Where the DA governs, we prioritise the health of patients, and we can do the same in North West if residents vote DA in next year’s election.

Issued by Gavin Edwards, DANW Spokesperson on Health, 26 July 2023