Eastern Cape hospitals struggling to perform orthopaedic surgeries

EAST LONDON - Hospitals in the Eastern Cape are short of orthopedic equipment to safely perform surgeries.

It is reported that some patients have had to be amputated after injuries because hospitals lack the capacity to save their limbs.

The province's department of health says its drowning in a backlog of patients who need orthopedic surgery. 

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The Health Department says some patients may even face long waiting periods, of up to 10 years for this surgery.

Speaking on behalf of the department, Sizwe Khuphelo says they are looking into training more specialists in this field and also introducing mass operations during weekend.