16 October 2006
The Trauma Unit being used up to recently became quite insufficient in
handling the number of patients in need of trauma care.
Revitalisation funds amounting to more than R42 million, were used to
establish the new Trauma Unit, which became operational on 5 June 2006:
Construction costs: R18 330 030
Equipment costs: R24 000 000
Total cost of project: R42 330 030
Pelonomi is one of the two hospitals on the revitalisation programme of the
Free State Department of Health.
The Trauma Unit attends to all life threatening emergencies. It serves
central South Africa, namely the Free State with its five districts, parts of
the Northern Cape and Eastern Cape.
Consisting of 100 beds, it is the biggest Trauma Unit in the country, and
features:
Fifty two (52) trauma beds
Fourteen (14) high-risk beds
Eighteen (18) critical care beds
Twenty six (26) trauma orthopaedic beds
The trauma unit is easily accessible for helicopters and ambulances
transporting trauma victims from the outmost parts of the region.
The wireless monitoring system enables the personnel to monitor every
patient as soon as he or she is admitted. This can be done from the central
system, as well as from all the rooms where the patient is being taken to, e.g.
theatre, scanner, Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and en route to other sections
within the building.
The trauma unit of the Pelonomi Regional Hospital is operated to support the
public-private sector partnership (PPP) arrangement between the public and
private hospitals.
All public and private patients brought to the Trauma Unit are stabilised
first. Private patients are given the option to choose if they still want to be
admitted at Pelonomi Regional Hospital or transferred to Pelonomi Private
Hospital.
The Trauma Unit also forms part of the tertiary platform, offering practical
training opportunities for:
* paramedical students from the Central University of Technology
* medical students from the School of Medicine
* nursing students from the School of Nursing, also from the Faculty of Health
Sciences, at the University of the Free State.
Trauma patients and their families can be assured that the personnel of the
trauma unit are well trained and equipped to handle all kinds of trauma.
Programme for opening of the Pelonomi Trauma (accident and emergency) Unit
on Tuesday, 17 October 2006
08h00 â 09h00: Thank you event with suppliers
Who to attend: All the suppliers, MEC of Health, Head of Department (HOD),
General Manager SFS, Executive Managers, Executive Management of Pelonomi,
Trauma Unit staff, Chairpersons of all hospital boards in the Free State.
Tea and coffee
Programme Director: Ms Madolo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Pelonomi Regional
Hospital
Opening and welcome: Programme Director
Thank you message: Mr Sakhiwo Belot, MEC for Health
Awards of certificates by: Mr Sakhiwo Belot, MEC for Health and Ms Moeder
Khokho, General Manager SFS
09h00 â 10h00: Media briefing
Panel: Acting HOD, MEC of Health, Executive Managers, General Manager SFS, CEO,
Trauma Unit representatives, Head Clinical Services of Pelonomi, Community
Health Management (CHM) members
Programme Director: Acting HOD, Dr Ronald Chapman
Opening and welcome: Acting HOD, Dr Ronald Chapman
Overview: Executive Manager: Resource Management and Support, Mr Mosiuoa
Shuping
PPP partnership: CHM, Dr Anna Mokgokong / Richard Friedland
Keynote address: MEC for Health, Mr Sakhiwo Belot
Questions and answers session: Co-ordinated by Executive Manager, Mr
Shuping
Light refreshments
10h00 - 12h00: Official opening of Pelonomi Trauma (accident and emergency)
Unit
Pre-event entertainment: Live band
Programme Director: General Manager SFS, Ms Moeder Khokho
10h00 - 10h15: Opening and welcome by: Health Councillor of Motheo, Ms MT
Modise
10h15 - 10h30: Opening prayer by: Rev. Moshe Musapelo
10h30 - 10h45: Entertainment by Pelonomi choir
10h45 - 11h00: Overview by: Prof. EJ Theron (Founder of Traumatology in Free
State)
11h00 - 11h15: Entertainment: Mmabana dancers
11h15 - 11h30: Keynote address by: MEC for Health, Mr Sakhiwo Belot
11h30 â 11h45: Unveiling of the plaque by: MEC for Health
11h45 - 12h15: Tour of the Unit by Very Important Persons (VIPs) and media
only
Video of the Unit to be watched by community members
12h15 - 12h30: Vote of thanks by: Ms Kibi Madolo, CEO Pelonomi Regional
Hospital
12h30: Lunch and entertainment
Enquiries:
Gela Naudé
Tel: (051) 408 1278
Fax: (051) 408 1055
Cell: 082 381 9483
E-mail: naudeg@fshealth.gov.za
Issued by: Department of Health, Free State Provincial Government
16 October 2006
