GEORGE NEWS - Three more of George Provincial Hospital's patients benefited from the collaborative surgery project between Mediclinic and the public health sector on Saturday 7 July.
This follows various surgery procedures on 12 state patients as part of the collaboration project across the country to assist provincial hospitals with their waiting lists for key procedures. The Mediclinic surgical facilities, nursing staff and service from Mediclinic-associated doctors are provided free of charge.
The three complex trans-urethral operations to remove tumours were undertaken at Mediclinic George by local urologist Dr Mark Kent, assisted by Dr George Peach (anaesthetist) from Great Brak River.
A number of procedures have been performed at Mediclinic George so far with assistance from Drs Tienie van Niekerk and Johan Bahlmann, who performed ENT and urology procedures.
Kassie Karstens, general manager of Mediclinic George and Mediclinic Geneva, is delighted with the results of the collaboration. "We are able to touch and change so many lives. The Turb (trans-urethral resection of the bladder) procedures are life-saving procedures to remove tumours in the prostate or bladder. We are expediting the treatment for the patients that may have had to wait for assistance in the public sector."
He thanks their doctors, anaesthetists as well as nursing staff for sharing their expertise and time. "One cannot underestimate the impact of these collaborations over the longer term."
Michael Vonk, chief executive officer of George Hospital, says, "The collaboration with Mediclinic allows the public sector to get access to the additional capacity available in the Mediclinic surgical facilities and the talent of the surgeons. This also alleviates the number of urology and ENT (ear, nose and throat) patients on the public waiting list."
The medical team who made this project possible, from left: Dr Mark Kent, Mpilo Khwela, Shamelle Carelse, Betty April, Dr George Peach, Gerda de Beer and Allistair Christians.
Marie Carelse makes sure patient Wynand Strachen is comfortable.
The CSI collaboration is part of the current national roll-out of pro bono procedures by Mediclinic and it is envisioned that an additional 100 surgeries will be undertaken during the current financial year.
More than 100 patients were attended to in 2017.
Read a related article: Mediclinic's helping hand appreciated
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
