CHOC’s support to the medical and staff in the Paediatric Oncology wards of the state-funded hospitals encompasses:

TRAINING & MEETINGS FOR MEDICAL & NURSING STAFF

In order for medical and nursing staff to keep abreast with developments in First World countries, they should attend training courses and conferences, both locally and internationally. It is also beneficial for the local doctors to meet experts in other countries to forge personal contacts with others in the profession with whom they can discuss specific cases and consult through the electronic media on an ongoing basis to collaborate on treatment. CHOC, in close consultation with the South African Children’s Study Group (SACCSG) assists with funding to relevant seminars and conferences. 

MEDICAL STAFF POSTS

Should hospital budgets be insufficient to provide adequate numbers of medical staff for effective treatment of children, CHOC is dedicated to ensuring that funding is provided to fill vacant and necessary posts and also to provide specialised therapeutic treatment when necessary. 

NON-MEDICAL & ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT STAFF

The doctors and nursing staff members in treatment centres are generally under-resourced and work under sustained pressure. Hospitals are often unable to provide adequate support staff to undertake the more routine work.  This workload is then often provided by the doctors and nurses and this adds to their already heavy workloads with a potentially adverse effect on the effective treatment of the children. To avoid this, CHOC ensures that there is adequate volunteer support provided in the treatment centres to minimise the non-medical workload of doctors and nurses thus freeing them to spend more time on the treatment and care of the children.