News

Expansions and upgrades the order of the day at iconic Pietermaritzburg hospital

Improved emergency department opens

Monday, August 24 2015

The new emergency department at the bustling Netcare St Anne’s Hospital in Pietermaritzburg recently opened with fully upgraded facilities and technology.

“We are really pleased that we are now able to be of greater service to the communities we serve. Our extremely busy emergency department sees approximately 1 700 patients each month, ranging from those injured in motor vehicle accident to those suffering serious asthma attacks. Our staff members have been doing a wonderful job but, due to the huge demand for our services, it was essential for us to create the necessary capacity in our facility,” says Netcare St Anne’s Hospital general manager, Louis Joubert.

Additional staff members, who are skilled in resuscitation and able to deal with high level trauma, have been appointed to strengthen the existing emergency department crew of trauma trained doctors and nursing staff who are in attendance 24-hours per day.

Established more than a century ago, Netcare St Anne’s Hospital has built a solid reputation for quality healthcare in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. Through the years, with the expansion of the province’s capital city and surrounding areas, the demand for healthcare services continued to grow. In May this year, new medical and surgical wards, as well as a high care unit, were completed while our fully refurbished and re-equipped 16-bed maternity unit with three labour wards, a new dedicated caesarean theatre and a 6-bed neonatal ICU opened earlier this month.

The unit manager of the emergency department, Sister Irene Jones, says she and her colleagues are enjoying applying their knowledge and skills in the new, improved setting. “Our state-of-the-art emergency department now includes eight examination bays, two resuscitation bays and a theatre where local anaesthetic procedures are performed. The existing Netcare sexual assault centre – a private self-contained facility with an en-suite bathroom which is located in the emergency department – has also been upgraded.”

“Netcare St Anne’s Hospital has grown from strength to strength and we are now in an even better position to help those in need of urgent medical assistance,” she adds.

The first Netcare Sexual Assault Centre opened in 1998. Since then a total of 37 such centres have been established at Netcare hospitals around the country. A holistic approach covering medical, emotional, psychological, physical and sanitary care is followed in providing free assistance to survivors (women, men and children) of sexual assault. Survivors are encouraged to report the crime to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and lay charges, and Netcare staff members assist with forensic examinations and evidence preservation.

“Through providing exceptionally professional services in this modern, private setting, we aim to provide a streamlined, efficient and compassionate service,” Sister Jones explains. In 2014 the Netcare Foundation won the inaugural Trialogue Strategic Corporate Social Investment Award for its sexual assault centres at Netcare hospitals and its sustained programme to holistically assist survivors of sexual assault.

“We thank our patients, their families and the community for bearing with us during this hospital expansion project. We trust that the fruits of these labours will bring great benefit to the communities we serve,” concludes Joubert.

Ends

Issued by: Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of Netcare St Anne’s Hospital
Contact : Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Sarah Wilson or Meggan Saville
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]