Partial compromise reached as Netcare Alberlito moves to retain facilities at reduced size

Netcare Alberlito Hospital will retain its paediatric facility at a reduced size, but birthing and neonatal services are still to close at the end of June next year.

This was confirmed by Netcare after a week of continued public outcry, including a well-supported protest on Thursday, against the news that the hospital would close its maternity and childcare wards.

The hospital’s position has since slightly changed to accommodate a middle ground with affected specialists after meetings between them and hospital management last week.

“This open consultation process represents a notable and collaborative commitment to reach a workable conclusion on how best the interests of the community could be served going forward,” said paediatrician, Professor Andre van Niekerk, in a Netcare statement on Saturday.

Most notable is the fact that a dedicated paediatric ward will remain, which means that overnight stays for children who would otherwise have been treated in the day ward, will continue.

It will have fewer than the current 15 dedicated beds, but does represent a significant change from the originally anticipated full closure.

Planned birthing and neonatal care facilities will still be closing however, although that closure date has been moved from the end of April to the end of June 2023.

This is a full eight months from the date of the statement, thereby accommodating most of the already pregnant clients.

Gynaecological and women’s health services outside of pregnancy will continue to be offered without change.

Emergency obstetric care is still available however, and patients will be stabilised until such point that they can be transferred to a more suitable facility.

For birthing and neonatal care, Netcare has indicated it would be willing to transfer the required license to a separate, independent facility, subject to approval from the Department of Health.

“The loss of the obstetrics department does leave a huge gap in the community and it would be a perfect opportunity for a group to start a specialist facility. For most of us to stay at Alberlito, we would need to do gynaecology alone, which would only be possible in a practice if the doctor has specialised skills. It would also mean that we would have to give up obstetrics, something that many of us started with because it was a passion,” said an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Alberlito who asked not to be named.

Netcare reaffirmed its intent to support the specialists wherever possible and it is understood that rooms will be offered to those who want them in the adjacent The Well Centre.

Specialists will have the opportunity of moving to another hospital within the Netcare network as well.

“We remain dedicated to the community of Ballito,” said Sara Nayager, regional manager of Netcare’s KZN hospital division.

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