Cape Town – A Cape Town doctor has received the Silver Award in the Best Doctor of the Year, at the National Batho Pele Excellence Awards for his services during the pandemic in managing hospitals.
Dr Barry Smith, filled the capacity of management of the CTICC Hospital of Hope and Brackengate Intermediate Care Facility which ran as field hospitals during the pandemic for the care of patients who tested positive with the Covid-19 virus.
He was further sent to Karl Bremer hospital where he also played an important role during the second wave.
Shimoney Regter, Communications, Western Cape Government Health said Smith’s contribution during the pandemic had been phenomenal during his roles at different hospitals such as Karl Bremer Hospital, CTICC Hospital of Hope and Brackengate Hospital.
“Towards the end of April 2020, a team of people were pulled together to operationalise the field hospital project which included the CTICC Hospital of Hope and Brackengate Intermediate Care Facility.
“Dr Barry Smith has played a significant role in the management of the CTICC Hospital of Hope where he was responsible for clinical management and later opened and managed the Brackengate Hospital of Hope as the chief executive officer in July 2020.
“He further played a key role as the medical manager at the Karl Bremer Hospital during the second wave of COVID-19 in December 2020, a period when the hospital transformed ordinary wards into Covid-19 wards to save lives.
“Now, the Karl Bremer Hospital medical manager has been honoured for his contribution and resilience in combating the pandemic.”
She said Smith received the award to honour his dedication: “ Dr Smith has received the Silver Award in the category Best Doctor of the Year at the national Batho Pele Excellence Awards.
“He was honoured along with other public servants under the theme, combating the Covid-19 pandemic through a Batho Pele focus, Putting People First.”
Smith said he had memorable moments during the pandemic and that he ensured a professional working environment: “Being able to provide leadership to the teams I work with and doing my best on a daily basis to create an enabling working environment that leads to quality healthcare services of high public value, has the most meaning to me.
“Some of the highlights of my career has been my involvement in the Swartland Hospital fire disaster response and recovery and the contribution to the Covid-19 response at Karl Bremer Hospital and the Covid-19 intermediate care facilities (CTICC Hospital of Hope and the Brackengate Intermediate Care Facility).”
He added there had been a lot of challenges and many moments were unpredictable and that his purpose was a reward itself.
“Dealing with such complexity forces you to value your team members and to encourage teamwork and it requires an ongoing openness to learning and improving in order to meet the healthcare demands of the communities we serve,” he said
“Although it is very encouraging to receive such an award, I don’t see it as something one can actively pursue.
“Being recognised for work that originates from a personal sense of purpose and passion is a bonus because this is where the true reward lies.”
Smith began his journey at the Stellenbosch University where he obtained a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
As a young medical student at Stellenbosch University, his desire was to save lives and to improve healthcare in our country.
He added it was essential to distinguish who needed surgery and that they met the demands at the hospital.
“Currently, we are experiencing a rise in patients with complicated disease, likely following the impact Covid-19 had on patients’ healthcare seeking behaviour and access to services,” he said.
“Under such conditions, it is essential to identify and prioritise those patients who need true emergency and urgent care at hospital level.
“We stretch every resource we have and work as efficiently as possible to meet the demand at the hospital, but it is essential that all the contributing factors on every level of the health system and in the community are addressed simultaneously.”
He said the job came with rewards and that he had the privilege of work with amazing and dedicated staff and that his family had kept him grounded.
“The most rewarding part of my job is being involved in any process that greatest number of people and, on this journey, that I have inspired those around me to contribute to their full potential,” he said.
“I owe this award to my family that has been my biggest support and who have kept me grounded in all my undertakings.
The remarkable team I work with has inspired me in so many ways through their selfless commitment, caring attitude and competence.”
Regter added Smith had received the award from the following leadership: “Dr Smith received the prestigious gold award for exemplary leadership at the annual Western Cape Government Service Excellence Awards.
“Karl Bremer Hospital CEO, Jonathan Lucas, has praised the medical manager for his dedication and passion to delivering excellent healthcare.
“On behalf of Karl Bremer Hospital, we want to congratulate Dr Smith on this special achievement following his national award.
“He truly embodies the values and characteristics of an exemplary public servant.
“Having been recognised at a national level for a job well done mirrors his work ethics and his desire for excellence both as a manager and a clinician.
“We are all super proud of him.
“The Gold in the Best Doctor of the Year category was a tie between Dr Phetho Mashaole Mangena from the Mankweng Hospital in Limpopo and Dr Nicholas Ernest Pearce from the Free State Health Department.
“The second position was also a tie between Dr Mzekelo Godongwana from the Amathole Stutterheim Hospital in the Eastern Cape and Dr Barry Smith from the Western Cape Department of Health.
“Well done to all nominees and winners.”
Weekend Argus