Weekend Waiting List Initiative
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Help remove a child from the surgical waiting list
When a child needs surgery, emergency, life threatening and complex procedures are prioritised. For those children needing less complex procedures, however, this means that they have to go on a waiting list. Many find themselves waiting for months on end. It is a traumatic time, with children often in discomfort for long periods of time. The wait itself also causes new levels of stress and anxiety for families who are already dealing with the trauma of childhood illness.
A child needing minor elective surgery can wait between 6 months to 2 years. Delays for untreated surgeries could worsen the child’s condition over time, negatively impacting their health and emotional well-being.
The Weekend Waiting List Initiative was established to reduce wait periods for elective paediatric surgeries by adding a day of surgeries (Saturday) to the Hospital’s operating schedule. This initiative has been running successfully for 12 years at Red Cross Children’s Hospital.
Part of the collateral damage of Covid-19 is that many elective surgeries such as hernia repairs, removal of tonsils, and orthopaedic procedures were placed on a waiting list. This has resulted in over 1600 children being negatively impacted, with 420 lists.
In addition to Red Cross Children’s Hospital, The Children’s Hospital Trust is expanding the WWL initiative to Tygerberg Hospital to assist with its backlog of elective paediatric surgeries. Tygerberg Hospital performs 2000 paediatric surgeries annually.
‘The Weekend Waiting List gives each child a better quality of life sooner rather than later.’
Dr Harris
For more information on this project please contact Chantel Cooper.
Weekend Waiting List Initiative
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Help a child on the waiting list receive surgery sooner
When a child needs surgery, emergency, life threatening and complex procedures are prioritised. For those children needing less complex procedures, however, this means that they have to go on a waiting list. Many find themselves waiting for months on end. It is a traumatic time, with children often in discomfort for long periods of time. The wait itself also causes new levels of stress and anxiety for families who are already dealing with the trauma of childhood illness.
Taking place between July and December every year, the ‘Weekend Waiting List’ initiative began in 2011. It has one clear aim: to reduce patient waiting times by offering an extra day of surgery (Saturdays) to the Hospital’s operating schedule.
‘The Weekend Waiting List gives each child a better quality of life sooner rather than later.’
For more information on this project please contact Chantel Cooper.
Help a child on the waiting list receive surgery sooner
When a child needs surgery, emergency, life threatening and complex procedures are prioritised. For those children needing less complex procedures, however, this means that they have to go on a waiting list. Many find themselves waiting for months on end. It is a traumatic time, with children often in discomfort for long periods of time. The wait itself also causes new levels of stress and anxiety for families who are already dealing with the trauma of childhood illness.
Taking place between July and December every year, the ‘Weekend Waiting List’ initiative began in 2011. It has one clear aim: to reduce patient waiting times by offering an extra day of surgery (Saturdays) to the Hospital’s operating schedule.
‘The Weekend Waiting List gives each child a better quality of life sooner rather than later.’
Dr Harris
The Trust has committed R900 000 to fund an extra day of surgery once a week between July and December.
For more information on this project please contact Chantel Cooper.
