Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) has launched a critical initiative, Emergency Funds for Emergency Surgery, aimed at addressing the country’s high trauma burden.
In partnership with the Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) Trust, the project is a timely and lifesaving response to the increasing demand for emergency surgical care, especially in periods such as Easter when trauma cases peak.
With the support of generous donors this initiative is already making a vital impact, but continued support is needed to sustain and further expand it.
Kristy Evans, executive director of the GSH Trust, said the project costs R2,16 million per annum.
She said since September last year R300 000 had been raised and, thanks to a generous donor, the remaining R1 860 000 to extend the project for this year was raised.
The Trust now needs R2,16 million for next year.
In 2023, the hospital performed more than 6 200 emergency surgeries, often under severe pressure.
With funding from LottoStar, Metropolitan and private donors, the hospital has secured resources for 70 additional emergency theatre lists this year.
Evans said while this marked significant progress, ongoing support was essential to ensure the programme’s continuation into its second year and beyond. “This project will save lives and protect the future of surgical training and care,” he pointed out.
Prof Lydia Cairncross, the head of general surgery at the hospital, said the main causes of trauma-related emergencies at the facility are car accidents, pedestrian accidents, gun violence and stabbings.
She added there were also accidental injuries such as those on duty or on construction sites.
Cairncross explained that the funds would help the hospital respond to trauma cases and enable the facility to increase the theatre capacity when needed.
“Trauma is unpredictable and increases at weekends, public holidays and end-of-month periods, when the distressing connection between alcohol and interpersonal trauma becomes evident. While trauma rates change in relation to these societal factors we have a fixed number of emergency theatres to care for people affected by the trauma.
“The Emergency Fund for Emergency Surgery will allow us to open an additional theatre at times when trauma numbers increase.”
She explained that delayed surgeries could be detrimental to trauma patients and stressed the importance of increased emergency care.
“Treatment for traumatic injuries is time sensitive. Patients usually need to be operated on immediately or within hours.
“Delays can mean loss of life or limb or increased complications after treatment.”
The professor explained a strain on emergency resources could have ripple effect on the health sector.
“The strain on emergency surgery affects all surgical services because we share a theatre complex. When we are aware that someone may die if they cannot get to theatre, and the emergency theatres are full, we often have to cancel patients on booked lists in order to treat them.”
According to Cairncross, this means patients waiting for surgery, such as cancer surgery, often end up waiting longer.
“It also affects our ability to train surgeons who are able to perform all types of surgery as the more complex, booked surgery has less and less space in our system as trauma increases.”
She said trauma should be labelled as an epidemic.
“The levels of violence we are witnessing is a sociopolitical emergency and should receive our immediate attention at the level of regulation and law.
“While many of the factors such as addressing poverty and inequality are longer-term in their trajectory more immediate interventions would be better control of alcohol sale and distribution, control of illegal firearms through better gun control laws and interventions to control organised crime and gangsterism.”
Cairncross said until these challenges are addressed communities most affected by trauma will continue to suffer.
“The solutions involve role-players at all levels of society, but need to be underpinned by strong state and government intervention, raise awareness about trauma in communities and participate in campaigns to improve alcohol and gun control.”
She appealed for donations and said each contribution made a difference and could save a life. “And for the victims of trauma we encourage individuals, organisations and corporates to donate to the GSH Trust.”
To donate visit www.gshtrust.co.za
