A local resident shared her difficult experience with knee surgery, which turned into an expression of deep gratitude for the staff at Victoria Hospital in Wynberg, challenging common perceptions of public healthcare.
She expressed immense thanks to the entire team at Victoria Hospital in Wynberg. On July 4, 2026, she fell and fractured her kneecap. This fracture caused severe pain, and she was brought to the hospital by her husband and brother.
Many feel anxiety and panic when visiting public hospitals due to long waiting times, leading them to wish they felt better even before arriving. However, in this case, due to the injury, she had to go there.
Despite initial concerns, she received unexpectedly excellent care, comparable to experiences in both private and public institutions. This applied to the work in the emergency department and the quick management of pain, as well as the follow-up examination six weeks after the operation.
Cape Town residents traditionally fear long queues, cleanliness levels, and staff attitudes in public hospitals. Nevertheless, she highly praised the work of the staff at Victoria Hospital.
She specifically thanked the administrative staff of the outpatient department, the orthopedic clinic team, the physiotherapists, as well as the very hardworking and caring porters who always assisted with the wheelchair and made extra efforts to ensure she did not experience pain. Even the waiting time was acceptable.
The author hopes that fears surrounding public hospitals may decrease, allowing people to begin trusting the system, while all hospitals and their departments can improve, similar to what happened at this hospital.