Pretoria - Today marks the new beginning for the Brits District Hospital as its phase one of relocation to the newly built hospital is on track.
The first phase saw the opening and occupation of three wards getting underway to open doors of the revitalized and improved health care services for the community of Madibeng Local Municipality at the new premises.
The new premises are now on the corner of Hendriek Verwoed and Van Velden Streets, opposite the Sasol Garage.
The safe relocation of the three wards from the current makeshift to the new building received blessings and endorsement from the North West Department of Health MEC, Dr Magome Masike, and various stakeholders including the North West Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health, Social Development and People Living with Disability.
The relocation of the three wards is intended to bring relief and end the tradition of massive congestion and flooding at the current makeshift hospital. The Brits Hospital was demolished in 2008 to make way for the new hospital.
The 36-bed makeshift hospital serves a population of over 300 000 and it experiences overcrowding daily and offers no critical services like neonatal, burns and maternity.
“We want to take this opportunity to let all users of our services know that as from today, the 1st October 2013, the hospital has relocated and opened three wards, including medical wards with 20 beds, surgical beds with 20 beds and paediatric ward with 30 beds,” said an elated Hospital CEO, Themba Mhlanga.
Mhlanga added that 30 additional beds for maternity services, which are also part of phase one, will soon be opened after all the basic essential theatre equipment are 100% in place.
He also thanked the Emergency Medical Services team from Madibeng Sub District for their collaborative efforts in ensuring that the relocation of patients was a success.
Amongst the first patients admitted at the new hospital was Rachel Mafa from Letlhabile Township outside Brits, who in spite of her sick condition, could not hide her joy of being the first person admitted at the new hospital.
“I am happy to be at this new hospital and moreover, today is my birthday,” Mafa said with a smile.
Hospital’s Clinical Manager Dr Lesego Pooe bought Mafa a birthday cake to celebrate her birthday at the new hospital.
The department said that the intervention is paving the way for the second phase of relocation, which will include broad services such as High Care, Neonatal ICU, Theatre, Crises Centre, Women Reproductive Health, Casualty and many more.
For now, the department said, the over R400 million new hospital will operate 100 of the 215 beds. – SAnews.gov.za
