Western Cape Health Department is probably one of the best in the country...and yet there are serious shortcomings.
The waiting list for knee replacements is ten years and basically patients are told they'll never receive their much needed surgery. Theatres are bombarded daily with fresh trauma cases and joint replacements are just not a priority.
What is interesting though is that patients are told that if they can pay R18000 they can get their surgery almost immediately. This is, of course, a fairly pointless request as most state patients hardly have R18 never mind thousands.
It just irks me a little though…..I understand resources are limited but these patients are really suffering with severe pain and immobility. In my opinion, this has to be addressed. With NHI proposals on our doorstep, I just wonder how on earth there will ever be enough funding to cope with all our serious health issues?
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