Pretoria hospital gets third place at annual public service awards for innovation
Pretoria West district hospital was noted as the third runner-up in the Healthy Body and Healthy Mind category. The west team developed interventions focusing on the mental health and physical well-being for hospital staff at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Gauteng MEC for health Dr Nomathemba Mokgethi has congratulated three Johannesburg hospital teams and one from Pretoria, who hoisted the provincial flag high when they won various awards at the 19th Public Sector Innovation Awards last week Friday.
The Centre for Public Service Innovation (PSI) awards recognise successful and effective service delivery improvement projects and initiatives that have been achieved through the application of innovative approaches, methodologies and tools.
The awards saw the Tembisa Tertiary hospital wound clinic take home the Citizen Focused Innovation Harnessing Non-ICT Solutions award.
Mokgethi said the clinic provided one of the best wound care services in the province.
“The innovative wound care management innovations implemented by the wound clinic have reduced long hospital stays, promote early discharge of stable patients and prevent acquired pressure ulcers, especially in the elderly, unstable, bed-ridden patients.”
She said the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg academic hospital (CMJAH) physiotherapy team was the first runner-up in the Healthy Body and Healthy Mind award category.
This physiotherapy team developed an innovative method of treating lymphedema.
Lymphedema is the swelling of a limb due to accumulation of fluid as a result of the lymphatic system unable to function at full capacity.
“In 2017 the team started physiotherapy in-service training on lymphedema management. This focused on early detection through screening and tracing of defaulting patients.”
Mokgethi said the Pretoria West district hospital was noted as the third runner-up in the Healthy Body and Healthy Mind category.
The west team developed interventions focusing on the mental health and physical well-being for hospital staff at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Physical activities and mindfulness support groups helped with stress management, relaxation and also offered coping mechanism for staff who were in the forefront in the fight against Covid-19,” said Mokgethi.
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The Tara H Moross Psychiatry hospital was awarded the ministerial award for its Early Childhood Learning and Development centre.
“I wish to congratulate all the hospitals who won awards on February 25, 2022. These awards are a testament to the fact that, despite battling the invincible enemy called the coronavirus pandemic, which disrupted many lives and destroyed livelihoods globally, the Gauteng healthcare system has remained resilient.”
Mokgethi said there were many dedicated men and women in the Gauteng Department of Health who strives to always go beyond the call of duty in search for methods to improve and better the quality of care they provide.
“It is not only gratifying to see them being recognised, but this will spur them and all of us on to greater heights,” she said.
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