hospitals
9 May 2007
The Eastern Cape Health Department signed a R600 million public-private
partnership (PPP) deal with the Netcare hospitals group yesterday, providing
for total refurbishment and upgrading of Grahamstown's Settlers Hospital and a
brand new hospital for Port Alfred.
The agreement was signed by Health MEC Nomsa Jajula and Netcare chief
executive officer Dr Richard Friedland, who said the first phase of the project
would take about 12 months, and full construction about two years.
It is the second hospital PPP negotiated for the Eastern Cape, the first one
having been the Humansdorp Hospital. The private partner will manage the
hospital facilities for 15 years after construction, as well as managing
certain key medical units such as casualty. The facility management will
include the provision of all "soft services" such as catering, cleaning, linen
and laundry, as well as all maintenance and replacement of facilities and
equipment.
Value added services to be provided include a wellness and anti retroviral
clinic, a joint care unit for victims of violence and the provision of student
sponsorships. Work at the 219 bed Settlers Hospital will include the
construction of a new theatre complex with the addition of a new third theatre
and recovery area, an improved emergency / casualty section and a single new
entrance area.
An important feature of the upgrade will be making the hospital more
user-friendly, with easier access to emergency services, hospital registration,
outpatient areas and pharmacy. Support services will be improved, including the
extension of the nurse's home to assist the hospital in attracting and
retaining staff.
The parties said improved patient flows and service delivery had been "the
key drivers" in deciding to build a new hospital at Port Alfred that would have
60 public beds and theatres, maternity, labour and paediatric wards and an
easily accessible outpatient facility. "The hospital will be designed on the
basis of modern health principles, replacing an outdated facility not suited to
current demands."
The old facility will remain fully operational until the new hospital has
been built, so obviating the need for patients to possibly have to commute to
Grahamstown or further.
In terms of yesterday's agreement, full private facilities will be
established at both institutions in addition to the upgrading of the public
facilities. The new facilities will consist of a four-bed maternity ward and
26-bed general ward at Port Alfred and a 32-bed private patient facility at
Settlers that will include a six-bed high care/intensive care facility and
specialised neo-natal intensive care ward.
The private hospital will provide the full range of hospital services to
private patients who until now have had to travel to either East London or Port
Elizabeth. "A key requirement of the department in permitting the inclusion of
the private facilities is that private and public facilities are of the same
standards and are visibly indistinguishable," said Sizwe Kupelo, the Health
Departmental Spokesman.
Issued by: Department of Health, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
9 May 2007
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecpg.gov.za)
