Johannesburg – Hospital groups across Gauteng say the third wave of Covid-19 has added tremendous pressure on their facilities, but still urge patients who need medical attention to seek help.
Dr Gerrit de Villiers, the chief clinical officer of Mediclinic Southern Africa, said there was a strong demand for hospital beds in Gauteng, Free State and Northern Cape.
“We are also seeing noted increases in demand for care in Mpumalanga and Western Cape. This demand is being experienced across much of the industry as a result of the increase in patient numbers and severity of patients’ conditions and is expected to continue in the coming weeks.
“Gauteng hospitals are currently experiencing exceptionally high volumes of patients with Covid-19-related conditions. “Our emergency centres are seeing significant volumes of patients seeking care. Intensive care unit (ICU) and high-care beds are under particular strain,” he said.
But De Villiers said that all emergency surgeries were continuing, as they still received non-Covid-19-related cases. He added that while ICU and high-care capacity might vary from hospital to hospital depending on the number of licensed beds, not all Covid-19 patients required ICU care or mechanical ventilation.
“Many admitted patients are treated successfully with supplemental oxygen and other supportive treatment modalities. In regions under pressure, elective [or non-emergency] surgery has been temporarily suspended, particularly where it may require ICU or high-care post-surgery.
He said revised visiting hours had been implemented within many of its hospitals. Dr Mark Ferreira, the group chief medical officer at Life Healthcare, said its resources were also under massive strain, particularly in Gauteng, with the numbers in the province having surpassed first wave and second wave admission rates.
“We are also experiencing strain at other hospitals in the country,” said Ferreira. But he said no one was being turned away as all hospital emergency units remained open and operational.
“Standard practice in the emergency units is followed by stabilising the patient, and if no beds are available for admission, the patient is then transferred to the next nearest facility with capacity.” Jacques du Plessis, the managing director of Netcare’s hospital division, said with its experience of the first and second waves, Netcare hospitals were well-equipped.
“Though the situation remains fluid, at present our facilities in Gauteng are under pressure,” he added.
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