George Hospital under tremendous strain

Update

GEORGE NEWS - The George Hospital, being a regional facility admitting Covid-19 patients for critical care from across the Garden Route and Central Karoo, is under tremendous strain.

Hospital CEO Michael Vonk on Friday 14 August said the pandemic is testing all their systems. By way of illustration, their daily use of oxygen has increased over the past month from 350kg to 1,6 tons.

Keeping the hospital's existing six ICU beds open, they have prepared 18 ICU and seven high care beds just for Covid, and appointed 25 extra nurses.

Speaking during an oversight visit from Western Cape Health Minister Nomafrench Mbombo, Vonk said all staff have been affected by the pandemic, from the human resources department to the cleaning staff who are burdened with the task of decontamination, and the workshop personnel who are responsible for the maintenance of equipment and ensuring that the monitors and ventilators are working and installed.

He lauded the staff for their dedication and said front-line staff put themselves on the line all of the time. A total of 79 staff members (of whom 24 are healthcare workers) have contracted Covid-19 up until last week. Of these, 13 are still active cases. On Sunday 16 August, the hospital lost Sister Stephanie Kiewiet (50) to Covid-19. One healthcare worker is currently being treated in the ICU.

Covid-19 patients who cannot be accommodated at George Hospital, are being referred to Harry Comay TB Hospital where 20 Covid-19 patients are currently being cared for.

A building addition will add 20 Covid-19 beds to this facility and once the project is completed, the TB hospital will be able to provide 60 beds for Covid-19 patients.

'Encouraging signs'
Speaking to Mbombo during her visit to Harry Comay, Dr Terence Marshall, head of Garden Route District health services, said that hospitalisations are an accurate way to determine if a region has reached the peak of the pandemic.

Hospitalisation figures have been remaining more or less similar in the district over the last week or two, but the critical care systems at hospitals are under strain.

"It is difficult to say whether we are nearing the peak, but there are some encouraging signs for the bigger sub-districts. We are keeping our eyes on the data. We think it is getting better, but the numbers do vary, so it is a little too early to say. "

Health Minister Dr Nomafrench Mbombo (second from right) with George Hospital staff, from left: Sr Alida Portland (Denosa representative), Sr Janine Ehlers (nursing manager), Hospital CEO Michael Vonk, Sharmane Janki (financial manager) and Sr Sarah Murray (assistant nursing manager). Photos: Alida de Beer

Deaths
From Wednesday 12 August up until Wednesday 19 August, the Garden Route has recorded 37 Covid-19 deaths, bringing the total to 250. In George, eight people have died during this period.

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said teams continue to monitor the numbers of infections in the district as it is not yet past its peak. Community screening and testing continue and additional healthcare resources, including additional beds, are being made available here.

"The Department of Health's Community Healthcare Worker programme continues in all the hotspots, where they play an important role in monitoring of health, sharing Covid-19 information and the delivery of chronic medications."

Hospital CEO Michael Vonk addresses hospital staff while Health Minister Dr Nomafrench Mbombo (left) and Dr Terence Marshall, head of the Garden Route district health service, look on.