Netcare Olivedale Hospital wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to colleagues in the hospital as well as to the surrounding community for the many thoughtful gestures and kind messages of support received in recent weeks.
According to Linda Bhagaloo, general manager of Netcare Olivedale Hospital, the morale of healthcare workers at the facility was recently given a considerable boost following an initiative between the Ruimsig Church and Dr Karen Gunther and Associates Inc., the haematological practice at the hospital with physicians who specialise in diseases of the blood and blood components.
“The haematological team had expressed the wish to remind their colleagues here at the hospital that there is beauty to be found even in the darkness, and they received an incredibly generous donation of 700 potted roses from Ruimsig Church. Arrangements were made for the staff to collect their roses from the helipad and within a short space of time everyone was smiling, looking forward to taking their beautiful living plants home,” she says.
| Healthcare workers at Netcare Olivedale Hospital collecting their individual potted roses from outside the facility. |
| Potted roses set out for hospital staff – an initiative between Ruimsig Church and the haematology team, or Heam Team as they are known, at Netcare Olivedale Hospital. |
Bhagaloo added that the healthcare workers at the hospital had also received a collection of notes and messages, compiled into an electronic card by members of the Sharonlea Valley neighbourhood.
“We have printed the electronic card out and placed copies in different parts of the hospital so that all our staff could view and find inspiration in the messages. The community members said they had put it together in the hope that it would bring some comfort to the staff when they are experiencing a particularly difficult moment, and it will most certainly do that,” says Bhagaloo.
“It has been a challenging time battling the third wave that we in the healthcare community hoped would never materialise, but did. The experience we gained in the first and second waves helped us to be well prepared. Nevertheless, the emotional, mental and physical toll experienced by the healthcare workers fighting this pandemic on the frontline is greater than words can describe.
“In those darkest of hours, it is the support, understanding and appreciation we receive from our patients and their loved ones as well as the wider community, that see us through. It warms our hearts to know that there are people out there, many of whom are complete strangers, thinking of us and sending us love and encouragement.
| Click here for a collection of supportive messages from the Sharonlea neighbourhood, compiled into a card and placed at different points around the hospital for staff to view. |
“At Netcare Olivedale Hospital, providing care is our calling, it is our driving purpose, and we are privileged to be of service to this wonderful and caring community, now and always,” concludes Bhagaloo.
Ends
Notes to editor
Looking for a medical appointment? Netcare appointmed™ will make appointments for YOU with specialists practising at Netcare hospitals, GPs and dentists at Medicross medical and dental centres, and specialists at Akeso mental health facilities. Simply request an appointment online at www.netcare.co.za/Request-a-medical-appointment or phone Netcare appointmed™ on 0860 555 565, Mondays to Fridays between 08:00 and 17:00.
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For more information on this media release, contact MNA at the contact details listed below.
Issued by: MNA on behalf of Netcare Olivedale Hospital
Contact: Martina Nicholson, Meggan Saville, Estene Lotriet-Vorster or Clemmy Forsthofer
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]