Western Cape trauma cases decreases on New Years compared to Christmas

The Western Cape's emergency crew responded to 3 534 trauma cases over the New Year's long weekend, as trauma units saw a decrease in cases compared to the Christmas long weekend.

Western Cape Department of Health's chief of operations, Dr Saadiq Kariem, said the New Years long weekend of the festive season saw trauma units and emergency medical services being called on to provide medical care to patients.

Kariem added that 9 555 patients needed non-trauma medical care, as they recorded 920 stabbings, 760 assaults, and 65 gunshot injuries across the province.

They also attended to 17 motor-vehicle related injuries and 136 pedestrian-related injuries.

Kariem said most cases were reported in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality.  

 “Most of the reported trauma cases were seen within the Cape Metro at facilities such as Delft Community Health Care (CHC), with 201 cases, Kraaifontein CHC, 193 cases, Paarl Hospital, 171 cases, Gugulethu CHC, 164 cases, and Khayelitsha Hospital, 163 cases.”

“Over the holiday period, unfortunately, we do see many incidents requiring emergency medical response. Our EMS crews again navigated a very busy weekend in responding to a total of 7 934 emergency calls across the province," he said.

 

By Lulama Klassen