Pretoria West District Hospital looks to improve in 2024 after challenging 2023

The Pretoria West District Hospital (PWDH)looks to improve its management and facility maintenance in the upcoming year, according to acting CEO, Lillian Madiba.

Madiba made the remarks after the hospital hosted its end-of-year awards for staff members that had gone beyond the call of duty.

“Going beyond the call of duty is doing more than what is allocated to you,” Madiba said

“This is someone who embodies the values of the Gauteng Health Department. This is someone who is available, when there’s a disaster going on at the hospital they are going to be there to help.

People who will act in positions that aren’t always necessarily theirs without expectation of monetary rewards,” Madiba added.

The award categories included long retirements, long-standing service (20, 30, 40 years), best-performing unit (eye clinic), most improved unit (theatre), most improved employees, the best employees in different sectors and many more.

“2023 was a very difficult year for this hospital. We had a change in management when our previous CEO moved to a different institution so we were left without a CEO.

Ultimately, I had to act. I started officially in February and we also lost another one of the top managers here. When there’s a change in management, it’s almost like an earthquake-like effect here at the institution,” Madiba remarked.

She said each leader has their own expectations and visions for the hospital and when that’s abruptly changed in the middle of the financial year, it’s a challenging adjustment.

This is evident due to the awards taking place in December when it’s typically scheduled for around the middle of the year.

“The one thing that assisted us to work through the whole thing is working together as a team. We try by all means to uplift one another, irrespective of the obstacles that we are facing, we learn from each other.

It’s not easy for me as well, coming from the nursing sector being a nursing manager, I must leave the nursing sector and manage the whole hospital, leaving my position vacant. Somebody else must leave their position to fill mine and that’s how management changes can affect the whole hospital.”

The other challenge the hospital faced this year was the maintenance of the hospital. PWDH is one of the oldest hospitals at over 40 years old and numerous areas require attention. The unexpected passing of the previous facility manager did little to assist with this. This left two integral managerial posts vacant and the hospital struggling.

“In 2024 we are hoping for stability in terms of management and for the teamwork that carried us through this difficult time to continue on.

Whoever will be appointed as the CEO must receive the same effort and teamwork from the staff because they are very resilient, self-driven, determined and competent.

As a manager of this institution, you don’t even need to micromanage anyone, everyone knows why they’re here. We hope to have a hospital that is moving forward,” Madiba added.

Despite the hardships the hospital had gone through, it was still accredited as compliant by the Office of Health Standards Compliance (OHSC).

In July, the hospital was also inspected by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (DID), placing the building on a level 3 in their ranking system.

The DID ranking system is from levels 1 to 5, with 1 being unacceptably poor and 5 excellent. While 5 remains the ultimate goal for all facilities, the DID said it’s in the midst of generating more 3s, 2/2.5 – green and amber respectively.

“We are in the process of upgrading and renovating our mortuary which was not up to standard in accordance with the City of Tshwane. We are also renovating our kitchen which was also up to standard, so we are expecting by mid-January that the project will be completed and we’ll be able to utilise those areas,” Madiba said.

She also briefly commented on the National Health Insurance Bill that seeks to grant universal health coverage for all South Africans respective of financial status. Madiba says it’s not something the hospital is currently ready for.

“Clinically, we are ready for it but looking at our infrastructure, there’s a lot that needs to be done.”

“A big issue with patients is they feel that public hospitals are not up to standard. It’s because of the environment the patients find themselves in. Hospitality will always be the main issue for patients.

If a hospital is clean, serves good food, and is presentable it’s a cherry on top. As public hospitals, we struggle with that. We can find facilities that are leaking, require repairs or paint jobs here and there and the public sector is struggling to get that,” Madiba added.

She also referred to recent renovations made at Mamelodi Regional Hospital, stating it made the facility feel like a private hospital and hopes PWDH will receive the same support.

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