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The contribution of family physicians to surgical capacity at district hospitals in South Africa
- Source :
- African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, Vol 13, Iss 1, Pp e1-e3 (2021), African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- AOSIS, 2021.
-
Abstract
- The World Health Organization states that essential, cost-effective surgical care should be delivered at district hospitals. In South Africa significant skills gap exist at district hospitals, particularly in the area of surgery and anaesthesia. These small to moderate sized hospitals are too small to support a range of full time specialists even if they could be recruited and were cost-effective. Family physicians (FPs) are trained in the clinical skills required for district hospitals and primary health care. Clinical associates have also been introduced to perform procedures at district hospitals. This report illustrates the contribution of a FP to surgical care at Zithulele Hospital in the Eastern Cape. Family physicians not only bring the necessary clinical skills set but also increase the confidence and capacity of the whole team. Outreach and support by surgeons, as well as continuing professional development, are important. Surgical and anaesthetic skills must be developed together. Family physicians also bring leadership and clinical governance skills that ensure the inputs to support surgery, such as equipment and information systems are available. The contribution of FPs to surgery and district hospitals is overlooked in both policy and practice. Human resources for health policy should recognise their contribution and increase the numbers available and FP posts at district hospitals. There is also a need to update the package of emergency and essential surgical procedures in policy.
- Subjects :
- Full-time
education
Short Report
surgery
South Africa
district health system
Information system
Medicine
Humans
family physician
Human resources
Health policy
Clinical governance
Primary Health Care
business.industry
surgical capacity
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Physicians, Family
General Medicine
medicine.disease
Hospitals, District
Outreach
district hospital
Continuing professional development
district health services
Medical emergency
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Family Practice
business
Delivery of Health Care
Clinical skills
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 20712936 and 20712928
- Volume :
- 13
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....bb10d11ad5b076253681b7afa138e7ed