Cape Town - Groote Schuur Hospital (GSH) has ended women's month on a high note, hosting a Robotic Surgeries Week with an emphasis on women's health.
The week ran from Monday until yesterday, using the cutting-edge Da Vinci surgical robot.
This technology has transformed surgical care since its debut at Groote Schuur and Tygerberg hospitals in 2022.
Throughout the week, 10 complex procedures, including gynaecological, urological, and colorectal surgeries took place.
This event raised awareness of the groundbreaking robotic surgical research being conducted at one of Cape Town's oldest hospitals.
Dr Linda Pohl, general surgeon at GSH, said the effort has yielded great outcomes by allowing them to make up ground on their waiting list.
“It's just in line with Women's Month and emphasises a journey that females have reached in South Africa.
“I think it's great to show our female talent to the country, it wasn't easy to get to his point,” Pohl said.
"In our unit, we are some of the first surgeons in the county that have been trained in abdominal wall surgery robotically."
The Western Cape Health Department and the hospital have experienced severe budget cuts in the past few months, particularly on the theatre side.
The hospital's CEO, Dr Shaheem de Vries, said the initiative highlights the growing importance of private-public partnerships in today's healthcare landscape.
“By working together, we can overcome financial challenges and continue to provide innovative healthcare solutions, particularly for the women who need them most,” De Vries said.
Through the use of these cutting-edge techniques, the knowledge and abilities of the hospital's surgeons can now guarantee that women receive top-notch care that benefits society as a whole.
As part of an all-female team that carried out the procedures over the week, Dr Claire Warden, a colorectal surgeon, said they had taken on the more difficult cases because the robot was built for them.
She said the latest developments in surgery are a game-changer in the medical field.
“You can still do operations open, but you just have to pop by and see the patient the next day and they are up and walking around. I think there's a massive difference in the patient's recovery time,” Warden explained.
With the support of all the stakeholders, the surgeons are fully prepared to make this an annual initiative.
Over the week,10 specialised surgeries were carried out, with surgeons concentrating on two procedures every day.
Nadine Caster, 26, who underwent a hysterectomy, said she has been waiting a while for the procedure.
“My journey started three years ago. I have been waiting for three years until they eventually gave me a date for August 14, but I got sick with the flu.
“They called me again saying that they had a date for Tuesday this week and I came on Monday,” she said.
Caster expressed her gratitude for being selected to be a part of the initiative.
Robyn Daniels, 39, a fellow patient who underwent the same operation on Tuesday, said she was overwhelmed by the call because she had experienced multiple setbacks in the past.
“I was very blessed because I waited so long and have undergone so many treatments with the hospital, but because they are a great team I felt comfortable about whatever was planned by them,” Daniels said.
“I feel like this is an amazing initiative, it allows the patient to recover sooner, with less pain. From what I have seen, women go through their surgeries and recover faster,” she said.
Executive director of the GSH Trust, Kristy Evans, said the organisation was thrilled to have commemorated Women's Month by emphasising the vital role that cutting-edge surgical technology plays in enhancing the health of women.
“With the support of Medhold, we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in public healthcare, ensuring that women surgeons are prioritised for upskilling and that women receive the best possible treatment,” Evans said.