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Leratong Hospital is a regional hospital based in the Western part of Gauteng Province. The hospital serves previously disadvantaged citizens and has a bed capacity of 800 but because of a lack of equipment not all beds are being utilised. 755 beds are in use. The hospitals key Health problems are HIV/Aids, TB and Trauma with violence being a major contributing factor to Trauma. The hospital is well known with emergency services as not having sufficient equipment in trauma. The lack of equipment in the Trauma Unit means patients have to be referred to hospitals out of the area. This is life threatening as the medical staff loses what is known as the platinum 15 minutes to save the patients life.
Catchment Area
The estimated catchment area for Leratong Hospital is 1.5 million people. The population comprises mainly of lower class and few middle class people. The area is densely populated with informal settlements. The Trauma unit deals with approximately 75 000 patients per year
Trauma Unit Leratong
A 24 hour emergency, resuscitation service, advanced trauma and cardiac life support;
Treatment and observation of medical and surgical and emergencies;
Treatment and reporting of physical and psychological abuse;
Treatment of HIV/Aids and TB and referral of patients to tertiary Hospitals and clinics, as appropriate;
Problems
Lack of health care facilities, intensive care beds, and lack of, or defective equipment was found to have contributed to the death of 25% of maternity cases in Gauteng. The limited equipment support has made it difficult to attract and retain skills in the emergency and resuscitation unit and sometimes has been the source of frustrations for the team in the unit. Most of our patients that are referred to trauma centres need to be optimised but without the appropriate equipment, this becomes a challenge.
Equipment needs; (please refer to the government letter for comprehensive list).
- Defibrillator with heart monitor – R60 000 each
- Vela Ventilator (mobile) – R270 000 each
- Dynamap monitor (vital signs) – R15 000 each
- Incubator (babies) – R75 000 each
These are a few of the pieces of life saving equipment critically needed. Without this equipment the lives of patients attending this hospital will be negatively affected with many dying unnecessarily. Please refer to equipment wish list for a more comprehensive equipment list.