Fresh and ready to serve. That is the overall morale of a group of interns who started their working career at Groote Schuur Hospital on Wednesday 2 February.
The Western Cape Department of Health has welcomed 313 first-year medical interns for the 2022 intake with 65 of these at Groote Schuur.
The department will also have 329 second-year medical interns returning from 2021.
Dr Bhavna Patel, Chief Executive Officer at the hospital, says they have about 150 interns in the medical division, interns in non-clinical groups working in admin areas like finance and human resource. The rest is community service staff who work in allied health professions like physiotherapy and also community service nurses.
Dr Nomafrench Mbombo, Western Cape Health Minister, welcomed the group.
“I would like to welcome these junior doctors, community service practitioners and administrators into the health system of the Western Cape. These interns are from across the country and have been placed in our system to help them gain the necessary experience that will enable them to add value to the health system.”
Mbombo says the purpose of internship is to provide training and a well-rounded, patient-centred, team-based practical work experience to these junior practitioners.
“They will develop the practical skills to go with the theoretical base they already have under the supervision and mentorship of more senior and experienced teams,” explains Mbombo, who encouraged the group to be dedicated.
“I want to encourage them to work hard, be 100% dedicated, and make use of every single teachable moment they will get while on this platform.”
Nomsa Mokwai, a community service nursing intern, says she started at the hospital in February last year.
“I have had an amazing experience at the hospital. The staff have been very supportive.
“When I started here I was placed in trauma emergency where I started my community service and then I moved to maternity. I have learnt a lot as a person and as a nurse. I wish all the new interns the best. I know they will learn a lot.”
Sheldon Moss, intern doctor and intern representative for 2022, says he started at the hospital in 2020 amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It was quite difficult and nerve-wracking . But the staff were all supportive. Another benefit of being here is learning from the best in the field, some, if not the greatest minds in medicine in the country, apply their trade here at this hospital.
“I am grateful to be part of the internship programme and will take lessons learned here moving forward in my practice as a doctor.”
