GEORGE NEWS - A total of 1 115 cataract surgeries were performed in the George Ecosystem (Garden Route and Central Karoo) in 2022 by George Hospital clinicians in the Ophthalmology Department (Beaufort West 123, George 417, Hessequa 70, Mossel Bay 206, Oudtshoorn: 126, Knysna 145 and Kannaland 28). This was achieved through active community outreaches, which includes cataract surgery at district hospitals and George Hospital.
"Elective surgery was significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, but since January 2022, the service has resumed and we are working to address the backlog of patients waiting," said CEO Michael Vonk.
George Regional Hospital provides secondary ophthalmology services in the Garden Route and Central Karoo district, including cataract surgery.
The ophthalmology team at George Hospital provides an extensive outreach service, travelling up to 3 500km per month to ensure that patients receive compassionate care closer to their home. Dr Nicholaas Stemples, ophthalmologist specialist at George Hospital, and medical officers travel to district hospitals to assess patients referred by the primary healthcare teams and to support the pre-operative work-up as well as post-operative follow-up.
"The aim of these outreach services is to carry out all uncomplicated cataract surgery in the subdistricts, ensuring everyone we serve in rural has access to these services," Vonk said.
Cataract surgery outreaches are to the benefit of all involved, said Stemples. These outreaches not only take ophthalmology services to the communities, but also reduce waiting times and lists, taking into consideration how many patients must travel a great distance to the nearest provincial health facility.
Potential cataract surgery candidates are screened and identified by the primary healthcare teams and are referred to the outreach clinics or George Hospital. Prioritisations are according to certain criteria as set out in the protocol used by George Hospital.
Disease progression, age, and in some cases, the specific job the patient is doing, play a role in the prioritisation of the patient for surgery. Waiting times vary according to these factors. Patients not eligible for surgery initially will get follow-up dates for re-evaluation.
"Our ophthalmology department is working hard and spend many hours on the road to give the best possible service to as many patients as possible with the resources available to us. We are trying to take the service to the people with our outreach model," said medical manager Dr Tian Koen.
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