Foundation and George Hospital team up for greater good
A five-and-a-half hour surgery to remove skin cancer from a patient's nose was the very first procedure done in a theatre of the George Hospital by a medical team of the Dr Ansua Foundation. The patient, Brian Faul, is a counsellor in George. The remaining theatre time for the day was utilised to operate on a patient of George Hospital, a six-year-old boy with a femur fracture.
The operation on Monday, 29 April pilots a collaboration agreement between George Hospital and the Dr Ansua Foundation, headed by Dr Ansua Steyn herself. In exchange for the theatre space, the medical team will also perform procedures on some of the patients of George Hospital to relieve pressure.
The Dr Ansua Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to providing minor surgical procedures for underserved adults.
"Dr Ansua Steyn, together with a plastic surgeon, Dr Marshall Murdoch, an anaesthetist, Dr Catharine Knights and nursing staff will see to their own patients on the day and selected patients on the waiting list at the hospital, adding much needed theatre time for patients," said Nadia Ferreira, spokesperson to the Department of Health.
With the budget cuts, George Hospital can only use three of their five theatres due to a shortage of staff. If all goes according to plan, this collaboration will take place on a monthly basis.
Medical history
A previous operation in 2021, during which skin cancer was removed, left Faul with a wound on his nose that just wouldn't heal. This damaged his confidence and affected his professional interactions. Dr Steyn devised a plan to address his problem. She consulted a plastic surgeon to create a skin flap for reconstruction, ensuring that any remaining cancer cells would be completely removed.
Collaboration
Up until now the foundation relied on the help of private theatres, such as the Advanced Health Surgical Centre in Knysna and a theatre at Dr Steyn's own property in Victoria Heights. The foundation provides surgical care, comprehensive support and rehabilitation to underserved patients, bridging gaps within healthcare services.
Dr Steyn is very excited about their new venture: "We are going to walk a path with the hospital and try to use the theatre once a month for one of our patients, whereafter we will help them with their patients until 19:00."
George Hospital's clinical manager, Dr Tian Koen, said they are grateful for external stakeholders such as the Dr Ansua Foundation. "These partnerships between public and private are beneficial to a vulnerable community dependent on us for care and support. Health is everyone’s business and we look forward to more partnerships in the future."
Transformations in 2024
Each month this year unfolded with a story of hope and healing for the Dr Ansua Foundation - the work done by the foundation has touched the lives of a number of patients. Read a short summary of the impact
Dr Ansua Steyn and her medical team have achieved in 2024 online at www.georgeherald. com.