RUSTENBURG HERALD - RUSTENBURG - Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death and hospitalisation worldwide - rural hospitals are not spared from this crisis.
Due to the over reliance of rural provinces on Academic Hospitals in Gauteng province, the waiting period for open heart surgery has increased significantly - in some cases patients have to wait up to six months.
A few years ago, the Department of Health initiated a partnership with private hospitals called the Public Private Partnership (PPP) with means of a standard lease agreement (SLA) to utilise the highly specialised theatres called a cath-lab to do specialised surgeries.
JSTH cardiology team had to find a way of helping patients who were waiting long for surgery.
In collaboration with Steve Biko Academic Hospital Cardiothoracic and Charlotte Maxeke Hospital, the first open heart surgery was done in November 2023. Within a twelve week period six open heart surgeries and six trans-catheter aortic valve implants were performed.
The preparation of these patients requires extensive investigations and discussions by the JSTH heart team that consists of two cardiothoracic surgeons, three cardiologists, three cardiac anaesthetists and an imaging specialist.
“As a hospital we pride ourselves in being able to bring these specialised services closer to our communities. We also would like to thank the volunteers from the two academic hospitals who continue to support the initiative to ensure universal health for all and applying evidence based medicine,” concluded the Chief Executive Officer, Ms Gloria Tlhapi.
