News

Netcare N17 Hospital celebrates two decades of healing

Hospital marks 20 years of service to the greater East Rand community

Friday, August 30 2019

The corridors of Netcare N17 Hospital in Springs were abuzz with excitement recently as the hospital commemorated its 20th anniversary; with patients, doctors, nurses, other healthcare professionals and administrative staff all joining in the celebrations.

Commenting on the occasion, Jaco du Preez, general manager of Netcare N17 Hospital, said that the hospital has a proud record and has been a beacon of hope for the people of Springs and further afield, who continue to rely on its specialised healthcare services.

“The 20th anniversary is an important milestone not only for the hospital but also for the communities we serve.”

“Our management team and staff members have embraced on-going improvement and our hospital has made a great contribution within the community over the years, with staff having cared for and touched the lives of many thousands of patients and their families,” he noted.

According to Du Preez, the East Rand N17 Private Hospital, as it was known when it first opened, was an impressive, well equipped facility from the outset, which became known for the quality of healthcare services delivered with the aid of state-of-the-art medical technology.

The corridors of Netcare N17 Hospital in Springs were abuzz with excitement recently as the hospital celebrated its 20th anniversary, with patients, doctors, nurses, other healthcare professionals and administrative staff all joining in the celebrations. Putting a smile on the faces of paediatric patients were, from left to right: hospital general manager, Jaco du Preez; paediatrician, Dr Antonios Zambakides and catering manager, Jonathan Fritelli with 'Rusty the Rhino’, the mascot for the innovative paediatric catering programme at Netcare N17 Hospital.

Netcare N17 Hospital recently marked 20 years of service to the greater East Rand community. Taking time out to commemorate this important milestone is the hospital management team. Front, from left to right: Eugene Leshiba, technical manager; Sr Valencia Zungu, MICU & SICU manager; Sr Neliswa Sibande, combined unit manager; Priya Naicker, pharmacy manager; Sr Amelia Stone, nursing service manager; Sr Cornel Scott, NICU unit manager; and Leana Haywood, reception manager. Second row left to right: Buyi Dlamini, HR manager; Leanne Thomas, billings manager; Sr Santie Steyn, maternity unit manager; and Bianka Zietsman, financial manager. Back row, from left to right: Stanley Trott, Netcare 911 branch manager; Sr Bernice Morris, emergency department manager; Jaco du Preez, hospital general manager; and Sr Sylvia Groenewald, theatre manager.

“Since inception, progress has been the primary objective of the hospital. This was driven by quality medical service delivery, excellent facilities and equipment and a quest for on-going learning. The hospital culture has long been one of efficiency and dedication, which have always been evident from the excellent relationships between staff and patients,” notes Du Preez.

When the purpose-built hospital, which was constructed on an open piece of land that was previously the home of a polo club, opened its doors to patients in July 1999, it had 130 beds, an emergency department, intensive care and neonatal intensive care units, as well as medical, surgical, maternity and paediatric wards. In addition there was an X-ray department, pathology laboratories and sessional medical rooms.

He says the hospital became part of the Netcare Group in October 2007, when Netcare acquired the remaining 56.3% of Community Hospital Group (CHG), a majority black-owned company with an established track record of providing high quality, cost-effective medical care.

“One of our greatest challenges through the years has been the facility’s capacity constraints. Today, Netcare N17 Hospital is a modern, 175-bed facility, which serves the communities of Springs and surrounding towns as far as Secunda,” he adds.

In addition to emergency medical care, a wide range of medical disciplines is provided including ear nose and throat surgery, maxillo-facial surgery, neurosurgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, all of which are supported by diagnostic services. The hospital can accommodate adult, paediatric and neonatal patients requiring intensive care. Facilities also include paediatric, medical, surgical, and combined wards as well as a maternity unit.

“Rapidly advancing technology enables us to provide quality care that is centred around the best clinical outcome for each individual patient, whilst we remain fully committed to always retaining our compassion, respect for the dignity of each patient, and caring human touch,” says Du Preez.

The regional director of Netcare’s north east region, Dr Erich Bock, says that Netcare N17 Hospital has become an integral part of the community, which it has served with distinction and dedication, and has played an important role in the development of private medicine on the Far East Rand.

“The medical practitioners, other healthcare professionals, nurses, administrative and services staff who have worked at the hospital over the years deserve the highest praise for their dedication, commitment, professionalism and the outstanding levels of care that they have provided to patients,” observes Bock.

“Netcare N17 Hospital, or ‘The Tonk Metre Hospital’, as it was known in the early days because of its proximity to the Tonk Meter Road, has been a constant and reassuring presence for the sick and injured in the greater Springs area,” affirms Jeanine Storm, who is one of some 20 employees who have been part of the hospital since the day it opened its doors.

Sr. Jeanine Storm, Clinical Facilitator at Netcare Education, who is based at the hospital, has some fond memories to share. “The hospital will always have a special place in my heart as I had my first baby here and this was probably one of the best days of my life. I will never forget the special friendships and the life-long memories that we made at this hospital.”

Storm’s birthday wish for the hospital is to never lose its beautiful culture. “The culture of the hospital can be felt by people far outside the hospital building. Visitors to the hospital compliment our staff for their friendliness and the homely environment we create for our patients. May Netcare N17 Hospital continue to grow and prosper. Cheers to 20 more years!”

“Working in a hospital environment requires engaging with people when they are at their most vulnerable. It is only thanks to the compassion and kindness of those who have worked here throughout the years, that Netcare N17 Hospital has built up a reputation for quality care and service excellence,” says Du Preez.

“We at Netcare N17 Hospital will strive to uphold and deliver on Netcare’s values of care, dignity, participation, truth and passion.”

“We look forward to introducing further advances in medical technology and to continue enhancing our care to the benefit of each of our valued patients in the decades to come,” concludes Du Preez.

Ends

To find out more about the services offered through Netcare hospitals and other of the Group’s facilities, please contact Netcare’s customer service centre: email: [email protected] or phone 0860 NETCARE (0860 638 2273). Note that the centre operates Mondays to Fridays from 08:00 to 16:00.

For more information on this media release, contact MNA at the contact details listed below.

Issued by:            MNA on behalf of Netcare N17 Hospital
Contact:    Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Meggan Saville or Estene Lotriet-Vorster
Telephone:    (011) 469 3016
Email:    [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]