Day hospital for the city
On Tuesday, an important step towards meeting the growing need for expert healthcare in the community was taken with the turning of the sod of Polokwane's new day hospital.
POLOKWANE – On Tuesday, an important step towards meeting the growing need for expert healthcare in the community was taken with the turning of the sod of Polokwane’s new day hospital.
This hospital will be built on the corner of Jorissen and Plein Streets, just 200m from Mediclinic Limpopo.
The MEC for health, Ishmael Kgetjepe, as well as the board of directors and personnel of Mediclinic Limpopo attended the event.
“The need was identified for a facility that can ease the pressure on the existing infrastructure and ensure both the community and our associated doctors benefit through the availability of more beds and theatres,” said Dr Nic van Rheede van Oudtshoorn, the chairperson of the board of directors of Mediclinic Limpopo.
The new day facility, which will imminently receive its official title, will have 26 beds and three theatres.
The contractor is a local company and the handing over of the ground took place on Wednesday. Construction will take 13 months to complete.
Van Rheede van Oudtshoorn said patients will book into the hospital in the mornings and by 19:00 every bed should be unoccupied. There will be no night staff, except cleaning staff.
“This opening contributes in a great way to the quality of life in the community,” said Kgetjepe.
“The relationship between the public sector and the private sector is very important. We are honoured by the presence of the MEC at today’s proceedings, which we feel is indicative of the joint commitment of the private and the public healthcare sectors to improve existing healthcare infrastructure in the province,” concluded Van Rheede van Oudtshoorn.
After the speeches, Kgetjepe and Van Rheede van Oudtshoorn each had the opportunity to turn the sod, declaring the premises open.
