Questions/Answers
Question 1
Please provide a brief summary of the initiative including the problems/challenges it addressed and the solutions that the initiative introduced (300 words maximum)
• Alignment: The initiative affirms the right to health care for all in that it increased access to quality service for patients, who would otherwise die without definitive treatment for their cancers due to long distances from equipped facilities and limited resources especially money. This gives meaning to SDG 3 on Wellbeing and equalize our patients ‘access to care in line with SDG 10 which advocates reduction of Inequality.
• Significance: The initiative impacted positively on a vulnerable group suffering a disease category that is expensive, difficult to treat and often fatal. It brought the service into the North West Province where patients are treated where they sleep, and curtailed daily travel to receive treatment for the very ill. It reduced the transport cost and accommodation cost for the Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital supporting patients and the next of kin who want to visit their loved ones in Hospital. At one stage Klerksdorp/ Tshepong had to rent accommodation in Johannesburg for its Cancer treatment patients as they could not just cope with daily travelling.
• Innovation: This project established a comprehensive cancer treatment site away from traditional areas. It was established with the help and support of private oncologists who also saw the need to treat the less resourced patients at a time when Klerksdorp/Tshepong had no full time oncologist of its own. It increased the cancer treatment platform by decentralizing treatment from Central Hospitals. It helped address the problem of patient congestion in one unit, reduced the patient waiting times for the linear accelerator machines and meant that treatment hours could be increased as patients don’t have to travel long distances after treatment.
• Transferability: The initiative is fully transferable as One of our former Medical Officer has started some Chemotherapy service Job Shimankana Hospital in Rustenburg. We believe that with recruitment of a full complement of Oncology human resource and
a. What are the overall objectives of the initiative?
Please describe the overall objectives of the initiative (200 words maximum)
• The initiative has been running for more than ten years. In the beginning it involved cooperation between the Private Oncologists and the Public Hospital which trained its Nurses, recruited Radiation Radiographers, Nuclear Physicist, and Mould-room Operator to start a service for the vulnerable in our society. This innovation moved the Tertiary service of Cancer treatment normally found in University Medical School Hospitals, to a rural province standalone hospital thus increasing access to these life changing quality treatment modalities for the poorest and vulnerable members of society e.g. Prior to this initiative, a Patient from villages such as Bray would travel 152 kilometres to Sleep over at Ganyesa District Hospital, from where she/he would travel 281 kilometres to Klerksdorp. The patient would then face the daily 344km return trips between Klerksdorp Hospital and Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital for the duration of the treatment cycle. This painful state of affairs meant that the frail patients had to wake up early around 03h30-04h00 to start the Johannesburg trip at 05h00 and only arrive back in Klerksdorp between 19h00 and 21h00 only to repeat the same trip the following day. With this initiative the patients only travelled from the rest of the province to be admitted in Klerksdorp hospital where they received a complete treatment package with major
b. How does the initiative fit within the selected category?
Please describe how the initiative is linked to the criteria of the category (200 words maximum)
• Significance: The initiative impacted positively on a vulnerable group suffering a disease category that is expensive, difficult to treat and often fatal. It brought the service into the North West Province where patients are treated where they sleep, and curtailed daily travel to receive treatment for the very ill. It reduced the transport cost and accommodation cost for the Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital supporting patients and the next of kin who want to visit their loved ones in Hospital. At one stage Klerksdorp/ Tshepong had to rent accommodation in Johannesburg for its Cancer treatment patients as they could not just cope with daily travelling
Question 2
The initiative should improve people’s lives, notably by enhancing the contribution of public services to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the realization of the SDGs
a. Please explain how the initiative improves the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
• Alignment: The initiative affirms the right to health care for all in that it increased access to quality service for patients, who would otherwise die without definitive treatment for their cancers due to long distances from equipped facilities and limited resources especially money. This gives meaning to SDG 3 on Wellbeing and equalize our patients ‘access to care in line with SDG 10 which advocates reduction of Inequality.
Question 3
The initiative must impact positively a group or groups of the population (i.e. children, women, elderly, people with disability, etc) and address a significant issue of public service delivery within the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain how the initiative has addressed a significant issue related to the delivery of public services (200 words maximum)
The initiative impacted positively on a vulnerable group suffering a disease category that is expensive, difficult to treat and often fatal. It brought the service into the North West Province where patients are treated where they sleep, and curtailed daily travel to receive treatment for the very ill. It reduced the transport cost and accommodation cost for the Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital supporting patients and the next of kin who want to visit their loved ones in Hospital. At one stage Klerksdorp/ Tshepong had to rent accommodation in Johannesburg for its Cancer treatment patients as they could not just cope with daily travelling.
b. Please explain how the initiative has impacted positively a group or groups of the population within the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
This project established a comprehensive cancer treatment site away from traditional areas. It was established with the help and support of private oncologists who also saw the need to treat the less resourced patients at a time when Klerksdorp/Tshepong had no full time oncologist of its own. It increased the cancer treatment platform by decentralizing treatment from Central Hospitals. It helped address the problem of patient congestion in one unit, reduced the patient waiting times for the linear accelerator machines and meant that treatment hours could be increased as patients don’t have to travel long distances after treatment.
Question 4
The initiative must present an innovative idea, a distinctively new approach, or a unique policy or approach implemented in order to realize the SDGs in the context of a given country or region.
a. Please explain in which way the initiative is innovative in the context of your country or region (200 words maximum)
This project established a comprehensive cancer treatment site away from traditional areas. It was established with the help and support of private oncologists who also saw the need to treat the less resourced patients at a time when Klerksdorp/Tshepong had no full time oncologist of its own. It increased the cancer treatment platform by decentralizing treatment from Central Hospitals. It helped address the problem of patient congestion in one unit, reduced the patient waiting times for the linear accelerator machines and meant that treatment hours could be increased as patients don’t have to travel long distances after treatment.
Question 4b
b. Please describe if the innovation is original or if it is an adaptation from other contexts (If it is known)? (200 words maximum)
• Transferability: The initiative is fully transferable as One of our former Medical Officer has started some Chemotherapy service Job Shimankana Hospital in Rustenburg. We believe that with recruitment of a full complement of Oncology human resource and deployment of requisite infrastructure our unit can definitely be replicated.
Question 4c
c. What resources (i.e. financial, human , material or other resources, etc) were used to implement the initiative? (200 words maximum)
Our stakeholders in patients, their next of kin, The Political Head, The Health Workforce, The Faith Based Organisations and other Service Providers are in constant interaction as shown the accompanying comments from our comment books, cards, and Newsletters
Question 5
The initiative should be adaptable to other contexts (e.g. other cities, countries or regions). There may already be evidence that it has inspired similar innovations in other public-sector institutions within a given country, region or at the global level.
a. Has the initiative been transferred to other contexts?
Yes
The initiative is fully transferable as One of our former Medical Officer has started some Chemotherapy service Job Shimankana Hospital in Rustenburg. We believe that with recruitment of a full complement of Oncology human resource and deployment of requisite infrastructure our unit can definitely be replicated.
Question 6
The initiative should be able to be sustained over a significant period of time.
a. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable (covering the social, economic and environmental aspects) (300 words maximum)
This initiative has been sustained over number of years. The fact that the Cancers have been noted to be increasing and new oncology units have not been able to built at the same rate means that we have to increase our capacity to attempt to meet the demand for this essential service.
b. Please describe whether and how the initiative is sustainable in terms of durability in time (300 words maximum)
The Unit was adjudged to be the second best Oncology Unit in Public Sector in South Africa. It recently won the Centre for Public Service Initiative Award (CPSI Award) in November 2017
Question 7
The initiative should have gone through a formal evaluation, showing some evidence of impact on improving people’s lives.
a. Has the initiative been formally evaluated?
Yes
If yes, please describe how the initiative was evaluated? (200 words maximum)
The Unit was adjudged to be the second best Oncology Unit in Public Sector in South Africa. It recently won the Centre for Public Service Initiative Award (CPSI Award) in November 2017
b. Please describe the outcome of the evaluation of the impact of the initiative (200 words maximum)
Our stakeholders in patients, their next of kin, The Political Head, The Health Workforce, The Faith Based Organisations and other Service Providers are in constant interaction as shown the accompanying comments from our comment books, cards, and Newsletters
c. Please describe the indicators that were used (200 words maximum)
The Unit is under the Hospital Executive who visit it anytime. The Quality Department monitors the comments in the comment books and on a weekly basis open the lockable suggestion box. No Hospital department or ward keeps the suggestion box keys except Quality Department hence our certainty all suggestions in the box will be captured and responded to if needs be. In addition there is a Hospital Board chaired by the local Member of the Mayoral Committee for Health Ms N Mendela and Comprising of members from Local Business, a University Professor, Traditional Healer, a Community Member with Health Background, two Medical Doctors and the Hospital CEO.
Question 8
The initiative must demonstrate that it has engaged various actors such as from other institutions, civil society, or the private sector, when possible.
a. The 2030 Development Agenda puts emphasis on collaboration, engagement, coordination, partnerships, and inclusion. Please describe what stakeholders were engaged in designing, implementing and evaluating the initiative. Please also highlight their roles and contributions (300 words maximum)
Our stakeholders in patients, their next of kin, The Political Head, The Health Workforce, The Faith Based Organisations and other Service Providers are in constant interaction as shown the accompanying comments from our comment books, cards, and Newsletters
Question 9
a. Please describe the key lessons learned, and any view you have on how to further improve the initiative (200 words maximum)
For knocking off late- staff experiences some burn out since they have to push wheelchairs and stretchers to- and from the ward, pull and move the patients from the stretcher to the bed, assist wheelchair patients on to the bed. It is also very strenuous.
-Machine malfunctioning- Once, the staff came early in the morning and the machine went down/broke during warm up, before treating the first patient. The machine was declared broken after trouble shooting the machine (by communicating with the Technicians) has failed, and confirmed by messages displayed.
-The staff learnt to leave the machine on so as to not to come at 4am to warm up the machine for an hour. They come at 4H45 and start treating patients at 5am.