Bophelong Hospital: Fibroid Surgery Delays Leave Patient Waiting

• Tiisetso Lekgetho, 25, has been waiting for fibroid surgery at Bophelong Provincial Hospital since 2025 due to repeated postponements.
• Her operation, a myomectomy, is now scheduled for November 11, after an initial expectation for May 2026 was cancelled.
• Lekgetho's condition causes severe pain and heavy bleeding, preventing her from working and leading to reliance on a R370 social grant.
• Bophelong Provincial Hospital has a documented history of surgical delays and staff shortages, with 45 operations cancelled in April-May 2025.
• The North West Department of Health has not responded to recent inquiries regarding the current surgical backlog or resolution of staffing issues.

Such prolonged waiting periods for essential medical procedures in public hospitals raise serious questions about the fulfillment of the right to access healthcare services in South Africa and could form the basis for claims of medical negligence due to delayed treatment.

Tiisetso Lekgetho, a 25-year-old resident of Tsetse village outside Mahikeng in the North West, faces significant challenges due to multiple uterine fibroids, which have led to a prolonged wait for surgery at Bophelong Provincial Hospital. Her condition manifests as painful periods with heavy bleeding, rendering her unable to work or participate in daily life for two to three days each month. This ongoing struggle has not only caused physical and mental strain but also impacted her ability to seek employment, leaving her reliant on a R370 Social Relief of Distress grant.

Lekgetho's journey through the healthcare system began in 2024 when she started experiencing severe lower abdominal pain, painful periods, frequent urination, and fatigue. She sought medical attention at her local clinic in October 2025, which led to a referral to Bophelong Provincial Hospital. Following a CT scan, she was diagnosed with fibroids on November 19, 2025, and subsequently placed on a waiting list for a myomectomy, a surgical procedure designed to remove the fibroids while preserving the uterus.

However, her scheduled treatment has been repeatedly delayed. Upon her return to the hospital in February 2026, Lekgetho was informed of an additional three-month waiting period, with her surgery tentatively scheduled for May 2026. Despite being assured that hospital staff would contact her to confirm a May 26, 2026 operation, no such call was received. Subsequent inquiries after this date revealed that the theatre had been booked for emergencies, and she was further informed that other patients ahead of her on the waiting list were also still awaiting their operations. Her surgery is now scheduled for November 11.

The delays experienced by Lekgetho are not an isolated incident at Bophelong Provincial Hospital, which has a documented history of surgical postponements. In June 2025, reports indicated that operations at the hospital were repeatedly delayed due to staff shortages. At that time, the North West Department of Health confirmed that a total of 45 scheduled operations were cancelled during April and May 2025 alone.

Department spokesperson Tshegofatso Mothibedi previously attributed these cancellations to a shortage of theatre nurses, citing retirements, resignations, and sick leave as contributing factors. The department had announced plans to address the growing surgical backlog by recruiting more nurses and increasing theatre operating hours. However, more than a year after these commitments, Lekgetho remains among the patients still awaiting critical surgery. The North West Department of Health has not provided responses to recent questions regarding the reasons for Lekgetho's repeated postponements, the current status of the surgical waiting list at Bophelong Provincial Hospital, or whether the previously identified theatre staffing problems have been resolved.

The impact of untreated uterine fibroids extends significantly beyond physical discomfort, encompassing psychological, emotional, and social dimensions, as highlighted by Lekgetho's personal struggles and broader research. Fibroids, which are non-cancerous growths, can cause debilitating symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic or abdominal pain, and bladder problems. For Lekgetho, these symptoms have directly contributed to her unemployment and reliance on a social grant, as her condition prevents her from consistently seeking work.

A 2024 study conducted in Eswatini, involving 60 women diagnosed with uterine fibroids, further illustrates the profound challenges faced by patients. Participants in the study reported not only physical ailments like abnormal bleeding and abdominal pain but also significant psychological, emotional, and social difficulties. Many missed work and other essential activities due to their symptoms, and voiced concerns about delays in both diagnosis and surgical intervention. Such prolonged waiting periods for essential medical procedures in public hospitals raise serious questions about the fulfillment of the right to access healthcare services in South Africa and could form the basis for claims of medical negligence due to delayed treatment.

This article highlights systemic failures in public healthcare provision, specifically prolonged surgical waiting lists at Bophelong Provincial Hospital. Lawyers specializing in medical malpractice or constitutional law should note these delays as potential grounds for claims against the North West Department of Health for breach of the right to access healthcare services or for damages due to delayed treatment.

Source: Original reporting via Health-e News