Responsible behaviour leads to drop in trauma cases

Western Cape Government Health would like to thank the public of the Western Cape for their responsible behaviour on New Year’s Eve.

Although many of our Emergency Centres were dealing with COVID-19 cases, the trauma emergencies were significantly reduced in public hospitals, both in Cape Metro and Rural Districts.  Most of our facilities report today a much quieter than usual New Years’ Eve.

We are still collating numbers, but reports indicate a significant drop in trauma cases (these include motor vehicle crashes and violent trauma cases which usually accompany public holidays). Trauma cases are usually very time consuming and labour intensive. This reduction helped us to cope with the significant load of COVID-19 cases in our hospitals.

We are thankful to the public for heeding our call. It underlines the importance of behaviour change in dealing with the impact of the pandemic on our health service.

Wes-Kaapse Regering Gesondheidsdienste wil graag die publiek bedank vir hul verantwoordelike gedrag op Oujaarsaand.

Hoewel ons noodeenhede in hospitale besig was met COVID-19 gevalle, was daar ‘n duidelike afname in traumagevalle in publieke hospitale, beide in Kaapse Metro en landelike distrikte. Meeste van ons fasilieteite het gemeld dat hulle ’n baie stiller as gewoonlike Oujaarsaandskof gehad het.

Ons is steeds besig om finale getalle saam te stel, maar die voorlopige inligting wys ’n beduidende afname in die aantal traumagevalle (insluitend motorongelukke en gevalle van geweld) wat gebruiklik is gedurende vakansies en publieke vakansiedae. Traumagevalle is baie tydrowend en arbeidsintensief. Die afname in die traumagevalle het die gesondheidsisteem gehelp om die lading van COVID-19-gevalle in hospitale te hanteer.

Ons is dankbaar dat die publiek gehoor gegee het aan ons pleidooi. Dit beklemtoon die belangrike rol van gedragsverandering om die negatiewe impak van die pandemie op ons gesonheidsdiens te beperk.