After a five-hour long baseline assessment of the host city Rustenburg in North West today (Saturday), the Deputy Minister of Health Dr Molefi Sefularo announced that he was satisfied about the province’s progress except for minor teething problems.
Accompanied by Surgeon General of the South African Military Health Services Dr VJ Ramlakan, Dr Sefularo said, “The province is on track but we are concerned about the delay in completion of newly constructed 200 beds Moses Kotane Hospital. Although the construction of the building is 90 percent complete and to be handed over to the department on 28 February, there are tight deadlines to be observed for procurement and installation of necessary medical equipment, as the hospital should be ready by end of April.”
The Deputy Minister’s visit included a briefing by MECs of Health and Social Development Ms Rebecca Kasienyane, visits to Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital and Moses Kotane Hospital, an, inspection of the emergency medical services and its control centres and Royal Bafokeng Stadium’s medical centres.
The visit included the assessment of the following areas:
* Emergency medical services
* Hospital services
* Port health
* Environmental health
* Communicable diseases control
* Health promotion
* Forensic medical services
* Clinical medico-legal
* Pathology services
The North West Province hospital preparedness requires that attention be paid to the following factors:
* Emergency centre or casualty infrastructure.
* Skilled emergency centre / trauma centre personnel
* Disaster management plan
* Medical Technology
* Availability of intensive care unit (ICU) and surgical beds.
* Theatre space
At Job Shimankana Tabane Hospital renovations into accident and emergency with six resuscitation beds have been completed. Twelve beds for P2 patients, six beds in short stay ward, five obstetrics and gynaecology beds, five paediatricians and one isolation beds have been organised. Four treatment areas, triage area, counselling, administration and six theatres are functional. The generator is well maintained and sterilisation capacity has increased through additional autoclaves. High care technology has been upgraded. The latest health care technology has been acquired including a functional CT scan and a fully fledged digital machine on site.
The benefits of this for the hospital being ease access into both non and emergency services, improved patient flow, improved patient management and safety. Safety measures include reduction of entrances, 24 hour manning of entrances, installation of boom gates and patrol clocking system.
The hospital disaster management plans have been reviewed and training of outbreak response team on disaster management and disease surveillance is continuing. Five doctors and three nurses have been trained on Major Incident Medical Management Support (MIMS), 10 staff members trained on chemical, biological and radiation incident management. Waste management audit has been done and gaps rectified. The establishment of Thuthuzela centre is in progress.
The province has acquired 40 ambulances, discussions with private providers are underway to finalise aero medical services, and the mass casualty Standard Operations Procedures (SOPs) have also been reviewed. An estimate of 80 percent of accommodation has been inspected and 50 percent hospitality facilities complied with required standards. About
70 percent of food premises have been issued certificates of acceptability.
Enquiries:
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Issued by: Department of Health
6 February 2010
