The Department of Health in Gauteng was able to clear 37 000 surgeries in nine months as part of its plan to reduce backlogs in the province, it said in a statement responding to what it described as attempts to discredit its successful campaign.
The project was launched in July 2023 when provincial Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko challenged hospitals to pledge to eliminate all historical surgical backlogs – leading to what became known as the surgical marathon project.
Through the initiative, according to the statement in PoliticsWeb, the department was able to clear 37 000 surgeries in nine months – from mid-July 2023 to 31 March 2024. All patients were discharged with no reported complications.
In the second quarter (July to September 2023), 11 307 surgeries were performed.
Quarter three (October to December 2023) saw 22 112 surgeries cleared, and in the final quarter (January to March 2024), the backlog was completely cleared.
General surgeries comprised the bulk of the procedures (more than 22 000), while 8 000 orthopaedic surgeries and more than 5 000 cataract surgeries were successfully completed.
The department said it was important to highlight that while the historic surgical backlog has been eliminated, there was a distinction between the backlog list and the waiting lists, comprising new cases, which are being managed on an ongoing basis.
As of April 2024, there were 38 000 patients on the surgical waiting list. Since the beginning of May, 14 000 patients have undergone their scheduled operations, reducing the number of patients on the normal waiting list to 24 000.
While the waiting list is continually updated and addressed, the backlog, which represents historical cases, has been effectively eliminated.
The department had introduced an electronic dashboard system tracking the surgeries being performed across all hospitals, which was a significant step forward in transparency and accountability, and which would enhance patient care and operational efficiency, added the statement.
The department's statements followed criticism by DA shadow health minister Jack Bloom about the number of patients awaiting surgery in the province.
'According to an official written reply to my questions in the Gauteng legislature, the largest waiting list is 7366 patients at Steve Biko Hospital,' Bloom said.
He said other hospitals with massive surgery lists include the following:
• Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital – 4 958 patients
• George Mukhari Hospital- 4 627 patients
• Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital – 3 777 patients
• Tshwane District Hospital – 2 531 patients
• Kalafong Hospital – 1 982 patients
• Tembisa Hospital – 1 950 patients
• Helen Joseph Hospital – 16 57 patients
• Mamelodi Hospital – 1 565 patients
• Sebokeng Hospital – 1 402 patients
Politicsweb – 38 000 patients wait for surgery at Gauteng hospitals – Jack Bloom
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Gauteng claims surgery backlog cleared
Surgery marathons to tackle Gauteng backlogs
Bara’s surgery backlog spirals after flood damage unfixed