New hospital planned for Umbumbulu
It will serve residents of Folweni, Umbumbulu, KwaMakhutha, Illovo and Isipingo.
A new hospital has been proposed for Umbumbulu, which has been endorsed by the KZN health portfolio committee.
The facility will primarily serve the healthcare needs of residents of Folweni, Umbumbulu, KwaMakhutha, Illovo and Isipingo.
It will also see Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital (PMMH) finally find relief from overcrowding. Members of the KZN health portfolio committee supported a presentation on Tuesday, 1 September tabled by health MEC, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, where he stated that PMMH was overcrowded with more than 39,000 patients being attended to every month.
The committee acknowledged a hospital being built north of eThekwini, Pixley ka Isaka Seme in KwaMashu, will alleviate the high demand for health care services at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital.
The Umbumbulu hospital is expected to get off the ground in three years, after the KwaMashu facility opens its doors.
Currently, the average number of babies delivered at PMMH is 1,150 per month.
“Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital also has to take over all patients seen at municipal clinics when all 59 of them close at 4pm. As such, the facility is always overcrowded, day and night. Therefore, we really need to look into the feasibility of building a new hospital to serve communities in the south,” said Dr Dhlomo.
The committee also praised the department for its concerted efforts in building quality healthcare facilities for rural communities.
