Pretoria - North West Health MEC Dr Magome Masike will on Thursday open a step down unit at Klerksdorp/Tshepong Hospital Complex, which will ease the pressure on the busy facility.
The step down unit caters for patients who, after undergoing intensive care, may need extended nursing and other supportive care before they are fit to be discharged.
The 36-bed unit is open to both male and female patients needing step down care. It will be managed by a team of health professionals including doctors, nurses, support staff and counsellors.
The hospital complex has a high bed occupancy rate of 90%-96% due to the burden of disease. The average length of stay of patients is eight days.
The provincial Health Department said that it recognised the need for step down care as one of the several responses to the plight by releasing beds for acute care to alleviate pressure on hospital beds.
“The ultimate aim is to ensure equity, improve accessibility and render affordable and sustainable services without compromising quality,” said the department.
At the same event, MEC Masike will also launch a research unit to be jointly hosted with the University of the Witwatersrand. – SAnews.gov.za
