Budget cuts: state patients to expect longer waiting times

Longer waiting times in emergency centres and for routine surgical procedures may be expected by state patients in the Garden Route as a result of increasing budget constraints on the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness.

George Herald reported on National Treasury's budget cuts to health services earlier this year. There are serious concerns over the impact that this will have on an already strained sector.

More recently, the newspaper enquired from district health spokesperson Nadia Ferreira about the impact on George Regional Hospital and the Garden Route District as a whole.

Ferreira said although the provincial budget has been confirmed, the district does not yet have a formal, confirmed budget. "However, patients may experience the impact of resource constraints, such as longer waiting times in our emergency centre (EC), as well as longer waiting times for routine surgical procedures. This is largely due to the high number of patients requiring emergency surgery that must be prioritised and reduced theatre capacity."

For the coming financial year (2024/2025) the provincial department has received a budget of R30,48 billion, which is an increase of 2,5% from last year's R29,78 billion.

"However, as a result of the increase not keeping up with inflation rates, it means the department has a real decrease in its budget and must absorb the costs of rising inflation. Although the provincial budget has been confirmed, we don't have a formal confirmed budget yet for the district," said Ferreira.

"In order to continue providing basic healthcare services to our communities within the context of a shrinking budget and increasing population requiring health services, the department, including George Hospital, has implemented a number of initiatives to limit expenditure such as only filling critical posts across all service areas within strict budget constraints." In a recent media release the department stated that the public health system will remain under pressure for the next 3 to 5 years as a result of the budget cuts. This year, there is a shortfall of R807,87 million and after absorbing previous cuts to the budget, this shortfall puts further additional strain on a system which is already under pressure. It means the department can offer fewer services compared with last year.

Trying to increase revenue

"The department is reducing costs on the one hand, while trying to increase revenue

on the other. Cost savings are expected to come from streamlining services and through innovative approaches to healthcare. The department is exploring a number of relationships to potentially bring additional resources into its system, to supplement our government and donor fund allocations, while we continue to advocate for additional funding," reads the release.

The department said it is important now, more than ever, that health care services are used as effectively as possible. This includes patients accessing the appropriate level of care to ensure that acute and emergency services are protected.

Photo: George Hospital Prof Saleigh Adams from the University of Cape Town is operating at George Hospital, supported by a local theatre team, during last year’s Smile Week in George. Free services rendered by organisations such at the Smile Foundation, funded privately, are becoming more and more significant in an environment where state health facilities are increasingly feeling the pressure of restricted resources and a growing population.