Gauteng academic hospitals put measures in place to address theatre cancellations

The Gauteng Department of Health says it is putting in place measures to address theatre cancellations. 

The Department's  Kwara Kekana says both the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital (CMAH) and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH) continue to see a large number of patients who present with different illnesses.

"In 2018 Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital admitted 43 529 patients, whilst Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital admitted 104 495 patients," says  Kekana. 

"Due to various reasons, such as a high number of acute and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds, patient-related issues, infrastructure and equipment related issues; both hospitals had to cancelled or deferred planned theatre procedures."

Kekana says for 2018 the CMAH cancelled 2036 whereas the CHBAH deferred 1979 procedures. 

These procedures are then rescheduled at the earliest suitable time taking into consideration factors that led to deferment.   

"It should be noted that facilities have put systems in place to improve patient outcomes including active participation of patients in scheduling of operations by introducing electronic communication system for booking, reminder and cancellation," says Kekana.

These include evaluations of patients for major elective surgical procedures at pre-anesthetic clinics before bookings are made. 

She says patients scheduled for elective surgical procedures need to be in hospital on time to ensure uninterrupted supply of consumables for elective surgical procedures.

"Other measures being put in place to ensure that fewer procedures are cancelled or deferred include strengthening the cluster system and outreach, performing some of the operations in the cluster hospitals, extending arthroplasty list to 7pm during the week," she says.