Scores of patients on the waiting list for surgery at the Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein are running out of patience.
Unable to tolerate the long wait before being operated some have expressed their disgust with the Free State Department of Health’s apparent inability to address their plight. Speaking anonymously for fear of intimidation, some told Express they have been on the waiting list beyond three months. They blame the department’s failure to ensure surgeries are performed within at least 48 hours or two days, depending on the condition of patients.
“I have been here since the end of April waiting for surgery. Our frustration is based on negative reaction we get from some of the management staff whenever we seek clarity about our situation. I have been getting contrasting responses, some of the management personnel claim the theatre was fully booked. Then doctors say they are waiting for management to clear our situation to operate me,” said a patient who identified herself as Mmoki.
She is one of the patients in an orthopaedic ward waiting for surgery. Surgeries range from fractured arms and legs, knees, feet and ankles.
Another patient expressed concern that being more than 70 days at the hospital she might lose her job. “If operated on time, I believe I would have recovered already. My concern is that it poses the risk of me losing my job.”
An informed source said one of the reasons for the delay was a shortage in stock of consumables and devices required to perform surgery, adding that doctors and nurses were equally frustrated with the situation and facing reactive patients.
Earlier this year the department alluded the surgical backlog to a shortage of anaesthetists and orthopaedic specialists. A commitment was made to appoint professionals after first interviews were conducted in February.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson of the department, said: “The hospital has one theatre dedicated for orthopaedics which is not coping with the demand for operations.” He said four appointments for orthopaedics and anaesthetics have been made since January, while 64 patients are awaiting primary operations, 3 secondary operations and 50 removal of hardware.
Mvambi said theatre space would be made available at other hospitals to address the severe backlog. “We received approval for recruitment of additional nurses, anaesthetists and orthopaedic specialist to run it.”
