Dr Louise Wigens

26/02/2024

NEW BEGINNINGS

As I prepare for my semi-retirement and the transition of the West End Medical Suite to new caregivers, I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the privilege of serving as your general practitioner for the past 25 years. It has been an honour and a joy to be a part of your life journey, and I will always cherish the special conversations and relationships we have shared.

As you may know, I have moved to Glencairn in the Deep South peninsula and I am no longer able to sustain my daily commuting time to Pinelands. I am hoping to find a suitable location closer to home from where I will work reduced hours. However, I am pleased to announce that two young and enthusiastic medical doctors have joined the practice to ensure that you continue to receive the same high level of care that you have come to expect.

The West End Medical Suite will remain at its current location, and your patient files will remain on site. Fouziyah and Kathy will continue to cover reception duties and answer your calls, and the practice contact phone numbers will remain the same. I want to assure you that your health and well-being remain our top priority, and I am confident that the new medical doctors will provide excellent care.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have been your caregiver, and I hope that our paths may cross again in the future.

07/09/2023

Take a break

It’s wonderful to be back at the practice after my sabbatical!

Taking a step out from one’s day to day life routines offers an opportunity to reflect on one’s personal choices, present situation and future vision. Whilst I am not advocating that we all take long periods of time away from the office, which is usually not possible anyway, I do encourage you to plan your annual leave. We all need down time; time to switch off; time to recharge; time to reset; time to plan. I encourage those with large amounts of leave accumulated to take a break, spend time understanding yourself better and take the opportunity to visualize personal goals.

I return energized and am loving being back at my practice and connecting again with you, my patients. This week has been especially fulfilling for me to see so many of you whom I know so well. A reminder to me that it is indeed a privilege to be your healthcare provider and that I value our unique relationships.

I am grateful to Fouziyah and Kathy for holding the fort in my absence, as well as the doctors who covered for me. Moving forward, I will be at the rooms Mon- Thurs 09h00 – 16h30 and Dr Juanita Makan will be available Friday mornings.

A new pharmacy has opened in the West End Mall called The Local Choice, Mutualpark. This ensures ease of access to medication which can be started immediately after your consultation. The dentist now has a separate entrance. Sadly, the Lancet Lab is no longer offering a service at Mutualpark.

PathCare has a 45% discounted rate for women’s PAP LBC TESTS during August for non-medical aid patients. It is R175 for cash patients, until 31 August. Please book your consultation with Fouziyah should you wish to benefit from this additional offer.

Covid 19 remains prevalent amongst our communities. The latest variant is EG.5 which seems to be easily transmissible, however there is no evidence of increased severity.

Our contact and location details remain the same. However you will find that we have downsized the premises to make the practice more space efficient, and solely for my patients. Please note also that there is a new parking area for my patients, shown in the map below (red arrow) - the first parking spaces on the left as you enter the Old Mutual main entrance. (Click on the image for better detail)

Phone number: 021 531 4111
Email : reception@drwigens.co.za

07/11/2022

This newsletter focuses on men's health and is sent to you as a reminder to do your own self-examinations in addition to your annual health checks. Hopefully this serves also to provide some information for women to pass on to their spouses, brothers, fathers and sons.

Movember was founded 18 years ago to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, as well as mental health and su***de prevention. Every November, men across the world grow their best moustache in support of “changing the face of men’s health”.

Testicular cancers are rare and usually found in young males between the ages of 15-39. It usually presents with a small painless lump in the testicle which is located inside the scrotal sac. These tumours are most often found by patients themselves. Any discomfort in the te**es should be examined by a medical practitioner and if necessary, ultrasound tests can be arranged to evaluate further. The earlier testicular cancer is diagnosed the better the outcomes.

Prostate cancers are more often diagnosed in men older than 50. Prostate cancer is most often asymptomatic. Systemic symptoms like weight loss or bone pain will occur in 20% of patients. Men may notice difficulty starting or ending micturition (urination) or they may notice difficulty with their urine stream. A PSA blood test may be useful as a screening test for prostate cancer. A re**al examination however is always advised in conjunction with the blood test.

Depression and suicidal ideation (thoughts) often go undetected in men because societal gender roles dictate that when men express emotion they are not “real men”. Men tend to suppress their emotions in order to appear “strong” and “manly”. Statistics show that women will more easily seek help than will men for mental health issues. Men need to be aware that there are medical professionals available to support them through these dark moments.

So I challenge our men to grow your best moustache for the month of November thus reminding everyone of the unique health issues that men need to be aware of.

December is around the corner … we plan to stay open over the Christmas period working until 1pm every working day from 23 - 30 December.

Phone number: 021 531 4111
Email : reception@drwigens.co.za
Our website: www.westendmedicalsuite.co.za

25/08/2021

A humorous yet factual contribution for those who have not yet gone for their jab 😃

Everyone. I'm sharing some of my thoughts about vaccination, how the immune system works and I talk a bit abo...

18/04/2021

On the 28th February, I was grateful to receive the J&J Sars-CoV-2 vaccine, as part of the Sisonke trial. I had minimal side effects: a sore arm at the injection site for three days and a severe headache which resolved within 15 minutes after taking two Panado.

This does not mean that I now can’t get COVID-19. It means that I have a 67% chance of protection against moderate-severe disease, 85% against severe Covid-19 and 100% chance of protection against death. (Figures from the Ensemble Study). I still need to wear my mask, socially distance and wash my hands.

Sisonke has been given permission to continue the roll-out of J&J vaccines. This happened after a temporary suspension following some reported blood clots noted in 6 individuals from 6 million people vaccinated in the USA. To give some perspective on this:

The risk of developing a blood clot after
• the J&J vaccine is 0.0001%
• taking birth control pills is between 0.05 - 0.12%
• smoking is 0.18%
• getting a COVID-19 infection is 16.5%

The good news is that people over 60 can now register on the Electronic Vaccination Data System (EVDS) website: https://vaccine.enroll.health.gov.za

I would encourage you all to make every effort to get vaccinated, because the outcome of a Covid-19 infection is unpredictable.

Phone number: 021 531 4111
Email : reception@drwigens.co.za
Our website: www.westendmedicalsuite.co.za

31/01/2021

COVID-19 VACCINES AT LAST

It is a huge relief to see the daily number of new cases of Covid-19 in the Western Cape start to decline. The past few weeks have been extremely difficult for the hospital staff and critical care doctors across South Africa due to rising numbers of COVID-19 cases during our second wave peak.

Traveling to see family members over the Christmas and New Year period together with an increase in general socializing gave our new more infectious variant called 501-v2 the perfect environment to spread.

With this has come much grief, as many of us have buried loved ones and sadly, often more than one family member, colleagues and friends. I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to you all.

The recent lockdown, with more people staying home, has certainly assisted in controlling the pandemic in the short term. Lockdown, curfews and alcohol prohibition are not economically sustainable in the long run, and it is important to also consider the rising number of people who are now unemployed, and those companies that have been forced into liquidation. The full impact of the coronavirus pandemic has not yet been fully appreciated.

The silver lining is the arrival of vaccines. This is the best news since March 2020! A huge decline in numbers of Covid-19 cases can be expected once sufficient numbers of the population have been innoculated. The severity of Covid-19 cases should also decline within a few weeks of rollout, which will make a major difference. At this stage we know that the first batch of vaccines will arrive on 1 February, but we do not know exactly when Phase II will be rolled out.

A summarized 6-page document from the Department of Health explaining everything you need to know about the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines coming to SA can be found in this series of images. If you have any concerns, this should be a good read for you.

Take care, stay safe and remember it is human behaviour that spreads this virus.

Phone numbers: 021 531 4111 or 076 588 6603
Email : reception@drwigens.co.za
For more info, please check our website: www.westendmedicalsuite.co.za

25/01/2021

It is wonderful to at last feel that 2020 is drawing to a close with the holidays here. But please remember not to let your guard down – the virus is still here!

All holiday travels will be perfectly safe if all the following guidelines are adhered to. Travelling by road in your own vehicle is the safest. However everyone in the vehicle needs to vigilant that they do not lapse on mask wearing, sanitizing and distancing whilst out of the car, so as not to bring COVID into the vehicle. You need to protect each other.

Travel on public transport is more difficult to manage – please wear a good quality mask all the time and open the windows, if possible, to keep good ventilation. Take spare masks with you for long distance travel so you can change your mask if it becomes sweaty or damp (after about 6-8 hours). It is important to sanitize your hands before touching your mask and after touching your mask. Your used mask can be kept in a Ziploc bag or brown paper bag until you have an opportunity to wash it or discard it if disposable. Keep a small bottle of sanitizer (70% alcohol) on hand at all times.

Bathroom and food stops should be kept to a minimum, both being as quick as possible. Eat outside the vehicle whilst maintaining social distancing of > 1.5m.

Air travel is relatively safe. Planes have their own filters which are effective at removing the virus, and these stay in operation whilst disembarking. The high-risk areas are queueing at the check-in and getting onboard. If the basic guidelines are adhered to, wearing a mask over your mouth and nose and not removing it to eat or drink, you should be safe. Try to maintain your distance from other travelers when collecting your baggage from the carousel.

Obviously do not travel if you are unwell – contact your doctor as you may need to isolate for 10 days.

When you arrive at your venue it’s a good idea to do a quick wipe down of all the obvious “touch” areas eg light switches, remotes, hand rails and open the windows to ventilate the place.

Holiday activities should be outdoors as much as possible. Restaurants that have an outdoor seating area are safer than indoor restaurants. The beach is relatively safe, as is swimming in the ocean as long as you stay a good distance from people who do not live in the same space as you. Hiking is perfectly safe with small groups.

Alcohol reduces inhibitions and increases the chances of inadvertent exposure to the virus. Holiday romances will be particularly risky during this pandemic and should be avoided in order to protect your travel group from Sar-CoV-2 exposure.

Large family gatherings (even at home) may be risky, and weddings, funerals and nightclubs are known to be “superspreading” events.

The most vulnerable people are those with diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and the elderly. We need to be mindful of them and the possible consequences should they get COVID-19. It is human behaviour that spreads this virus, hence a reminder to

Keep your distance, avoid crowds and do group meetings of less than 15 mins or outdoors
Wear a 3-ply cloth mask in public spaces or with people with whom you do not live
Avoid indoor spaces with poor ventilation; keep windows and doors open
Do as much as possible in an outdoor space
Wash your hands and sanitise regularly when outside of your home
Avoid being with anyone who is ill, and do not meet friends if you are not feeling 100%
Let us start the new year with optimism, and make every effort to keep ourselves and those around us healthy!

Phone numbers: 021 531 4111 or 076 588 6603
Email : reception@drwigens.co.za
For more info, please check our website: www.westendmedicalsuite.co.za

12/10/2020

How can we keep our matrics safe so they can write their exams?

A group of doctors advising several schools across the Peninsula on how best to prevent and manage COVID-19 in the school setting, produced this article last week outlining what you can do to keep our matrics safe.

Several schools in the past two weeks have shown an increase in COVID-19 infections. Infection prevention and control is in place in all schools and the risk of infection is likely higher in the community than at school. As we are entering the matric exam period, here are some ways you can help keep infections low and our matric learners safe so that they can write their exams:

For all learners:
1. Exercise can help you manage stress; do it outside as much as possible, even with a friend as long as you stay at least 1.5m apart.
2. Limit your socialising to meeting a few friends (4 at most) outside in the park, Kirstenbosch, the beach, the mountain, anywhere in our beautiful city.
3. Avoid indoor parties at homes or restaurants and sleep-overs – if you must visit others inside their homes, open the windows, stay at least 1.5m apart, wear a mask, and try to limit the period to less than 2 hours.
4. When invited anywhere, ask yourself: Is this necessary? Could we postpone this to after the matrics have completed their exams? What can I do to keep my matric friends safe?

For parents and guardians:
1. Help your child make good decisions, remind them to consider their older brothers, sisters or friends who are writing matric. Help them play a part in keeping the school community safe.
2. Know the details of any events your child will attend: location, number of children, infection prevention measures, and make a reasonable risk-based decision.
3. Encourage exercise, preferably outdoors, but if indoors, ensure the facility has all the necessary prevention controls in place.

Younger people are thankfully spared the worst of COVID-19, and building herd immunity has been proposed as a valid strategy. Nevertheless, the next 8 weeks are critical for our school-leavers: let’s do all that we can as a community to end the 2020 academic year safely and successfully.

Phone numbers: 021 531 4111 or 076 588 6603
Email : reception@drwigens.co.za
For more info, please check our website: www.westendmedicalsuite.co.za

26/09/2020

Antibody testing and Back to West End Mall

We are excitedly heading into hopefully the final phase of lockdown – Level 1, with the State of Disaster extended until mid-October. Our national COVID-19 new cases are reportedly approximately 2000 per day, which is noticeably lower than the figures in July. It is time for all businesses to re-open and the economy to start an upward turn.

We have at last moved back into our old premises at West End Mall, Mutualpark building. All face to face consultations will be at the West End Medical Suite.

Phone numbers: 021 531 4111 or 076 588 6603

Email : reception@drwigens.co.za

For more info, please check our website: www.westendmedicalsuite.co.za

SARS-CoV-2 testing
Most of us are aware of the SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing for COVID-19. This is a swab test taken from the nasopharynx and tested for the presence of virus RNA. It is best to test on Day 3 of symptoms. The testing guidelines in the Western Cape have expanded to include any school-going person or teacher, as well as anyone who is in the workplace, presenting with an acute flu-like illness.

The most recent additions to our testing for SARS-CoV-2 are the antibody tests. These tests indirectly measure exposure or infection, by detecting antibodies made in the normal immune response to a viral infection. Immunoglobulin M (IgM), which indicates a current or recent infection, can best be detected at about 10-14 days after a viral infection. After about 5 weeks it disappears. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) can best be detected from about 14-21 days after an infection, and these levels can be maintained for much longer, possibly even years. It is unknown at present whether IgG antibodies detected in the blood tests indicate immunity to re-infection, or for how long protection from re-infection may last. However, detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies confirms exposure, and is a useful statistic.

It stands to reason that the antibody test is not helpful in an acute infection, only the PCR test is useful. However, if one has a (false) negative PCR test but clinically has a COVID-19 infection, a positive antibody test on Day 10-14 would confirm the diagnosis. Antibody testing is useful for screening in communities and determining the overall extent of exposure to the virus or the prevalence of infection in specific populations. The antibody test is also used in SARS-CoV-2 vaccine research to determine vaccine efficacy.

12/08/2020

Recently I have had queries about the isolation period protocol changing from 14 days to 10 days, so decided to explain this more fully.

Isolation means that when you develop symptoms of COVID or you have had a positive test for SARS-CoV-2, even with no symptoms, you need to remain apart from other people. It is believed that you are infectious for 10 days (unless you have had a severe infection requiring admission to hospital). With a mild illness, after day 11 you can safely go to the shops and be around other people. Hand washing, wearing of masks and social distancing remain the cornerstones of infection prevention.

Quarantine means you have been exposed to an infectious person, knowingly or unknowingly, and you need to remain at home away from other people. The quarantine period remains at 14 days and has not changed. This is because the virus may be incubating, and present with symptoms any time during the 14 days. Should someone in quarantine get COVID-19 symptoms, they start their isolation period on the day of the onset of symptoms. They would also have been infectious 2-4 days before the onset of symptoms (hence good that they were already away from other people). So, yes, this means you could be separated from people for as long as 24 days!

Just a reminder that SARS-CoV-2 is droplet spread and we breathe it in, or the droplets land on our nose, eyes or mouth when near an infected person. Fifteen minutes in the same room OR being face to face at less than 1.5 metres are both considered close contact. The risk of getting infected is reduced by wearing a mask, or being in a well-ventilated place, or being outdoors.

So keep washing hands, social distancing & wearing masks.

03/07/2020

With the announcement that Grade Rs will return to school on 6 July, we needed to vacate our temporary Greens’cool premises. I am pleased to report that we have now moved into the West Campus Building at Mutualpark, and are working from the gym area. Access is easiest from the OM delivery parking area, and signage indicating the route via the Greens’cool is in place.
We have today sent out an email to this effect (if you haven't seen it, please look in your other folders, like spam/promotions/social, and then add my sending address to your contacts list).

Our new phone numbers are:

021 509 0361

076 588 6603

021 531 4111 (rings ~ 7 times before switching through to us)

New email addresses:

reception@drwigens.co.za

appointments@drwigens.co.za