CAPE TOWN - Running a hospital can be challenging, but what happens when you manage a hospital during a pandemic?
Like many healthcare leaders, Dr Barry Smith showed an unwavering dedication to fighting Covid-19 and saving lives.
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 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.
Now the Karl Bremer Hospital medical manager has been honoured for his contribution and resilience in combating the pandemic.
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.
Dr Smith describes his work during the pandemic as one of the most meaningful contributions he made to public healthcare.
“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).”
Being a manager during the pandemic did not come without challenges.
“Working in the healthcare services comes with a high degree of uncertainty and unpredictability, mainly because this is a business about people.
“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.
“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.”
As a young medical student at Stellenbosch University, his desire was to save lives and improve healthcare in our country.
“I have always been fascinated by the natural sciences, and I am energised by interacting with people.
“I saw medicine as the perfect field where humanity and science meet when I studied MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) at Stellenbosch University.”
His passion for making a difference continues to drive him, and now, Dr Smith and his team take on pressures in the Karl Bremer Hospital Emergency Centre.
The hospital is often under severe pressure due to an influx of people accessing healthcare via the Emergency Centre.
Residents experiencing minor ailments have been encouraged to first access healthcare from their nearest primary healthcare facility to reduce pressure on the EC.
Despite these challenges, Dr Smith says his career comes with many rewards, and he hopes to continue delivering safe healthcare beyond Covid-19.
“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.
“I am thankful for the many extraordinary role models in my career that have demonstrated compassionate leadership towards me, who have trusted me enough to live out my potential and supported me whether I succeeded or failed.
“The leader I would like to be is one that is grounded in his team, who acts with discernment and wisdom and achieves a greater good through understanding and kindness.
“During the pandemic, I have been inspired by people who have shown these qualities.”
Cape Times