The contribution of family physicians to surgical capacity at district hospitals in South Africa

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dc.contributor.authorHendriks, Hansen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorAdeniji, Adeloyeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorJenkins, Louisen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMash, Boben_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2023-06-20T12:50:35Z
dc.date.available2023-06-20T12:50:35Z
dc.date.issued2021-10-27en_ZA
dc.descriptionhttps://phcfm.orgen_ZA
dc.description.abstractThe 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. en_ZA
dc.description.versionPublisher’s versionen_ZA
dc.format.extent3 pagesen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationHendriks, H. et al. 2021. The contribution of family physicians to surgical capacity at district hospitals in South Africa. African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine 13(1): 3 pages. doi.10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.3193en_ZA
dc.identifier.doi10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.3193en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2071-2928 (print)en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn2071-2936 (online)en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttps://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/127433
dc.language.isoen_ZAen_ZA
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyrighten_ZA
dc.subjectHealth services administration -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectPublic health administration -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectFamily medicine -- Practice -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectSurgery, Operative -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.titleThe contribution of family physicians to surgical capacity at district hospitals in South Africaen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA
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