Life Wilgeheuwel issue statement on their January readiness
“We appeal to members of the public to act responsibly when using social media about hospital capacity.”
Contrary to December rumours and social media messages, Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital confirms that the facility is not closed and is ready to admit Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 related patients.
Dr Charl van Loggerenberg, General Manager of Emergency Medicine for the Life Healthcare Group said, “The bed capacity situation across all of our hospitals is fluid and is being reassessed frequently. Our hospital management teams remain in constant contact with one another, their doctors and other healthcare professionals to ensure that additional beds are made available should this be required.”
Life Wilgeheuwel Hospital, as with all Life Healthcare hospitals, has a Doctor Covid Committee that works closely with hospital management in the daily and ongoing clinical decisions affecting patients, staff and doctors to ensure that the situation is managed optimally. There are daily operational briefings and live data to keep all the management teams appraised of facility status.
Dr Van Loggerenberg stressed that, “It would not be correct to say that hospitals are full and cannot accept admissions. We want to assure the public that any individual with an emergency must go directly to their closest emergency room where they will be treated. It is important for us to explain that determining capacity at hospitals is based on several factors, not only patient numbers. It is standard practice in all hospitals, outside of the Covid-19 crisis, to place certain areas of care under Temporary Capacity Divert.
“We appeal to members of the public to act responsibly when using social media about hospital capacity. The best place to get up to date information is to follow your local Life Healthcare hospital Facebook page, where official and important messages are posted in the interest of the hospital community and patients,” concluded Dr Van Loggerenberg.
