Tembisa hospital often runs at over capacity, a common crisis that we find at hospitals serving a large catchment area. This results in patients being discharged earlier than many should be. Home care then needs to take place, but many families are unable to cope with the appropriate wound care that is needed. The consequences of this is that wounds become more infected, which often results in the loss of limbs.
Currently the space used for wound care is too small, resulting in infectious and non-infectious patients sitting and being treated in the same room. Children are also seen in this area. This causes cross infection and is extremely traumatic for the children who are treated here. Statistics show that the spreading of diseases is increasing, and this is a critical factor that is entirely preventable with a proper, well-equipped Surgical Wound Care Unit.