Groote Schuur Hospital launches initiative to reduce women's surgical backlog

The first dedicated surgical list to provide reproductive surgical procedures for women was launched at Groote Schuur Hospital on Women’s Day on Saturday, August 9.

The dedicated surgical list, called the “Informed Choices for Healthy Futures,” is a partnership between Groote Schuur and the provincial health and wellness department, with support from Groote Schuur Hospital Trust.

The project is to assist in taking decisive action to lessen the backlog in women’s reproductive healthcare. 

This project will help women awaiting tubal ligation procedures, a permanent family planning option for women who have been waiting, in some cases, for years. 

According to the provincial health and wellness department, there are currently more than 300 women in the Metro West area who are on the waiting list for these elective surgeries, with no definitive date for their procedures. Due to large patient volumes and resource pressure in the public health system, the unfortunate impact is  that women have been discharged with only contraception options or referred elsewhere for these elective surgeries. 

During this women’s month initiative, Groote Schuur’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology will run additional surgical lists during August, supported by the Hospital Trust through fundraising and strategic partnerships to cover essential nursing and anaesthesia staffing costs.

According to Groote Schuur,  the aim is to operate on 60 women during this month, starting with those who have been waiting the longest. The procedures will be done as day cases,  reducing the pressure on inpatient beds while providing dignified, timely care. 

Medical Manager in charge of Mother, Women, and Child at Groote Schuur, Dr Sadia Murray, said this project is about more than just reducing a waiting list. “It’s about empowering women with the ability to make informed decisions about their reproductive futures. Launching the first list on Women’s Day is a symbolic reminder that access to healthcare is a fundamental part of gender equality,” she says.

Groote Schuur CEO, Dr Shaheem de Vries, said reducing this backlog will not only improve individual health outcomes but also contribute to stronger families and more stable communities.  “Every woman who chooses permanent family planning and receives it without years of waiting is one more step toward a more equitable healthcare system.”

The Groote Schuur Hospital Trust is calling on donors and partners to support the “Informed Choices for Healthy Futures” initiative to ensure its success and sustainability beyond Women’s Month. 

For more information on the Groote Schuur Hospital Trust, visit www.gshtrust.co.za