GEORGE NEWS - “Please think twice about your choices this Easter. Think twice about choosing to drink, fight and drive under the influence. You never know - your choice could have a much bigger impact than you think.”
This earnest plea to the public comes from Dr Bianca van Zyl and the rest of her colleagues who work at the emergency centre (EC) at George Hospital.
The emergency team is preparing for an increase in cases over the Easter weekend. “We see a definite rise in trauma cases over special weekends,” says Van Zyl. ”Many of these events are due to interpersonal violence. We see family members stabbing each other - sisters, children, parents - often with terrible results.”
The majority of these cases involve alcohol or other substances and the attackers do not really want to permanently harm the other. “Unfortunately, that's the nature of trauma - the wound just has to be in the wrong place for it to be fatal,” warns Van Zyl.
She says it's physically and emotionally draining for all their staff, especially those who work on the front line.
Trauma patients often have to wait a long time to be seen, resulting in longer EC waiting times for other emergencies such as heart attacks, appendicitis and sick children. As a result of the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic the last two years, there may also be an increased number of patients with acute conditions that could require emergency treatment.
These include mental health, as well as acute medical and surgical presentations for a range of chronic diseases, including acute cases of TB.
“Our appeal this Easter weekend is for you to help us to be able to help those in need of health care,” says Van Zyl. Our EC staff will be under routine pressure as people continue to need urgent care. Let us all play our part in ensuring our hospitals are not overwhelmed by avoiding preventable trauma to us and our fellow person.”
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
