Following Eskom’s implementation of Stage 6 loadshedding, only emergency surgeries will be performed at designated Free State hospitals.
Emergency surgeries are related to cases of trauma, such as injuries due to violence, motor vehicle accidents, and gunshot and stab wounds.
Mondli Mvambi, spokesperson of the provincial department of health, said the worsening loadshedding severely affected the department’s ability and has put constraints on its budget too.
“Our designated health facilities do perform surgeries but most only perform emergency surgeries as per protocol. Other facilities still have selective orthopaedic surgeries to perform, and some likely to be performed on Monday,” he shared.
Mvambi said with the department overburdened with loadshedding crises, critical decisions are being made to save lives.
“With the impact of loadshedding, patients who are on oxygen support at home come to hospitals for treatment. A major part of the budget is now being used for oxygen supply for patients and diesel for operating machines and lighting,” he stated.
Prolonged loadshedding results in the cancellation of surgeries and a backlog of patients on the waiting list for an operation.
The provincial department has been battling with a backlog of surgeries due to severe shortages in orthopaedists and anaesthetists. It has since made strides in dealing with this backlog that stood at 1 923 during July and August this year.
The Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital in Bloemfontein, in particular, had the largest backlog in comparison to all the hospitals dedicated to performing surgeries.
Meanwhile, the department announced that three major hospitals in Bloemfontein are exempted from loadshedding and that plans are afoot to have solar energy serve as a backup power supply.
These are mitigating measures following Eskom’s introduction of Stage 6 loadshedding on Tuesday, 6 December. The hospitals exempted from loadshedding are Universitas, National District Hospital, and the Free State Psychiatric Complex.
Alternative solar power will act as backup at the Moroka Hospital in Thaba Nchu, Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein, Bongani Hospital in Welkom, and Manapo Hospital in Qwaqwa.
