Emergency Funds for Emergency Surgery: How YOU can help save lives at Groote Schuur

Lester Kiewit speaks with Professor Lydia Cairncross of the Department of Surgery at the University of Cape Town Groote Schuur Hospital Academic Complex.

Listen below.

South Africa's public healthcare system is deeply overburdened.

Western Cape hospitals are under particular strain due to a trauma burden from assault and gang violence.

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This leads to consistent backlogs of surgeries as emergencies take priority.

Cairncross says they sometimes reschedule elective surgeries multiple times to give life-saving surgeries in emergency cases.

The Groote Schuur Hospital Trust (GSH Trust) has announced the Emergency Funds for Emergency Surgery (EFES) project to lift some of this burden.

This project will add 70 emergency theatre lists strategically scheduled over a year.

This project should facilitate more than 200 additional emergency surgeries.

“In the fund we would have capacity to create lists around the time we suddenly have a surge in trauma.” 

- Professor Lydia Cairncross, Groote Schuur Hospital Academic Complex

Caircross says they need to fundraise R2.1 million for this project.

Momentum Health Solutions has donated R100 000, and the UCT Surgical Society has dedicated its annual Charity Ball to raise funds for this project.

If anyone wants to donate, they can visit the GSH trust website.

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.