For a mother arriving at hospital with a sick child, the last thing she should have to worry about is whether there is a place to sit, whether the toilet works or whether the room is too hot or cold.

These were among the realities faced by patients and healthcare workers at Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital’s (RMMCH) old emergency department, but, after 82 years of serving generations of mothers and children, the hospital is now beginning a new chapter, with a modern emergency department designed to provide more space, better patient flow and an environment suited to the families who depend on it.

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Hospital CEO Dr Arthur Manning described the upgrade as the beginning of a broader renewal of the hospital’s infrastructure, with the aim of preparing RMMCH for another 80 years of service.

The need for renewal was particularly clear in the old emergency department. There were leaking roofs, inadequate lighting and no climate control. Oxygen points were insufficient for treating patients, while failures in the water and sewer infrastructure sometimes left toilets unusable. The problems affected more than the appearance of the building. Overcrowding meant patients had less privacy and could spend time waiting in unpleasant conditions.

Complaints increased, while healthcare workers faced their own challenges. Staff had to work in spaces that could become extremely hot in summer and cold in winter, with limited areas for comfort breaks. There were also inadequate spaces for training, meetings and rest. Most importantly, the department had not been designed specifically around the needs of children, families and pregnant women. For the people working there, even routine tasks could become unnecessarily difficult.

Manning explained that the old layout meant examination rooms were far from the medication cupboard, while the procedure room was poorly positioned, making it awkward to work.

The new department has been designed to remove some of those obstacles. Patient flow was one of the key considerations, with the layout intended to make it easier for patients to move from arrival and assessment to treatment. The upgrade also increases the number of resuscitation beds from six to 13, giving emergency doctors more space to treat critically ill patients immediately and keep them under observation when necessary.

Also read: Rahima Moosa Hospital doubles emergency resuscitation capacity

For staff, the difference is already being felt. Although the department has only recently become fully operational, Manning said healthcare workers appreciated the additional space and comfort, as well as being able to provide care with greater privacy. There are now staff rest areas and ablutions, while a training room creates space for ongoing clinical skills development.

For families, some of the changes may seem simple, but they matter during an already frightening experience. A department that is spacious, functional and designed around mothers and children can make the process of seeking emergency care less stressful.

The new facility became fully operational on September 21. Manning said the first days had gone well, with no flaws or delays identified in its operation, but perhaps the most significant part of the upgrade is what it represents for an 82-year-old hospital. Buildings, like people, eventually need care and renewal. The hospital that served families decades ago must be able to meet the needs of families today, as well as those who will walk through its doors decades from now. The emergency department is the first step in that process.

For the mother arriving frightened with a sick child, the healthcare worker trying to comfort a family while doing their job, or the pregnant woman needing urgent attention, the hope is that the new environment will provide something the old building increasingly struggled to offer: space to care with dignity.

As RMMCH looks towards its next 80 years, that may be one of the most important changes of all.

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