Dr Richard Carter, Specialist Physician:
subspecialising in Rheumatology, has also been
working in both thePerson Under Investigation
(PUI) and confirmed COVID-19 units.
Photo: Supplied
Since the first positive COVID-19 cases were reported in South Africa, dedicated staff and students from the UFS have worked tirelessly to help with the fight against this worldwide pandemic. These staff and students in the Faculty of Health Sciences include consultants who are appointed on the joint staff establishment and work for both the UFS and the Department of Health – infectious disease (ID) specialists and MMed students (registrars). The registrars have downed their books and some staff members have cancelled their leave to help with this unprecedented health crisis.
Responding to COVID-19 and juggling responsibilities
According to Dr Claire Armour Barrett, Clinical Research Director and Specialist Physician in the School of Clinical Medicine, the consultants have not only set up treatment protocols and responded fast to training on various aspects of COVID-19, but are also treating patients with presumed or confirmed COVID-19, while juggling their academic and teaching responsibilities.
“Nobody was trained for this; now these specialists have to train others. Five months ago, we hardly knew about COVID-19, yet these great men and women are now training others and have shown their leadership in many different ways. Let us not forget that at the same time, they are not only leading, but exposing themselves to the virus,” says Dr Barrett.
The subspecialists in training – who are UFS students – have been allocated to COVID task teams. They are now managing COVID-19 rather than preparing for exams.
The unsung heroes, continues Dr Barrett, are the registrars. “No doubt! Many people do not realise that without registrars, the academic hospitals would struggle to function. While appointed as trainees, the majority of the workload falls on registrars on a day-to-day basis.”
“As a norm, service delivery impacts the time that registrars have to focus on their studies, but now with COVID-19, their lives, schedules, and plans have been completely disrupted. Much more than any other student. Not only is it impossible for them to prepare for the exams that have been postponed, but they do not have the luxury of isolation. Although elective cases have been cancelled, many medical conditions and emergencies cannot be postponed or cancelled. The show must go on,” says Dr Barrett.
“They return home exhausted, sometimes scared, but with brave faces and at the risk of exposing their entire family to infection. These people deserve celebration! They are part of the UFS family and need to know that they are valued.”
Managing COVID-19 patients and services to other patients
Dr Richard Carter, Specialist Physician: subspecialising in Rheumatology, who has also been working in both the Person Under Investigation (PUI) as well as confirmed COVID-19 units, says the difficulty for the Department of Internal Medicine has been trying to balance a system of managing patients with COVID-19 (or potential COVID-19) while maintaining an adequate service to all other patients in need.
Something to understand, says Dr Carter, is that even with low numbers (which will undoubtedly increase), every doctor assigned to working in a COVID-19 unit further increases the demand on the department.
He speaks highly of colleagues – whom he calls legends – who have been battling on the forefront against the virus. “These are people we are truly blessed to have in the system. There is not one specific person, but our infectious diseases (ID) specialists (Dr Samantha Potgieter, Dr Dewald Steyn, Dr Cloete Jansen van Vuuren) and Dr Elitia Glover (ID specialist in the making) should be highlighted.”
Staff members from other divisions have been supportive, assigning staff to assist in COVID-19 wards. They have been absolute professional about the transition, such as Dr Nicholas Pearce who is playing a massive role in coordinating arrangements for the COVID-19 system in the Universitas Hospital, says Dr Carter. All the consultants and registrars who have done far beyond what is expected of them – those who work in PUI and COVID-19 units, COVID-19 task teams, and those who maintain service delivery in these unprecedented times – are part of a team of healthcare workers working tirelessly to contribute to the response to COVID-19.