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Pietermaritzburg sub-acute hospital marks 15 years of quality personalised care

Step-down and palliative care provided in modern facility with Victorian charm

Thursday, June 8 2017

Wembley House Sub-acute Hospital, set in a beautifully renovated Victorian mansion, is celebrating 15 years of providing personalised quality care to those in need.

“For a decade-and-a-half, Wembley House has sought to make each patient feel at home during their time under our care. As we mark our 15th birthday, we would like to thank the community we serve for their support over the years, and commit to upholding the excellent standard of care for which Wembley House is known,” says operations manager of the facility, Sr Elaine Langlois.

Pic: Staff at Wembley House Sub-acute Hospital aim to provide a 'home away from home' for patients. Pictured here are some of the staff members, namely (front row, left to right): enrolled nursing assistant, Vuyisile Nxele; case manager, Amanda Naidoo; chef, Hazel Hammond; and ( back row, left to right): carer, Gladness Thabethe; operations manager, Sr Elaine Langlois; administration manager, Andrea Dyall and enrolled nurse, Princess Dlamini.

Wembley House was acquired by Medicross, a subsidiary of the Netcare group in October 2015, as part of its strategy of expanding its service offering to incorporate sub-acute and rehabilitative care. Dr Charmaine Pailman, managing director of Medicross, congratulated Wembley House Sub-acute Hospital on its 15 years of caring. “Wembley House has become synonymous with exceptional standards of care, and we are very pleased to be associated with the facility given their commitment to patients in Pietermaritzburg and surrounds.”

Sr Langlois says that the dedicated team of staff are deeply devoted to their work. “We provide 24-hour nursing care for patients who are recovering from illness or surgery, including those who have had orthopaedic procedures, for example those recovering from amputations, hip and knee replacements, multiple trauma, stroke and other neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Our experienced and empathetic team also provide wound care, renal dialysis, pain management, occupational and speech therapy, as well as physiotherapy and palliative care, where required.”

Wembley House Sub-acute Hospital, which was acquired by Medicross in October 2015, is celebrating 15 years of providing personalised quality care to those in need. Pictured are administration manager, Andrea Dyall; operations manager, Sr Elaine Langlois; unit manager, Ena-Marie Weitsz; and case manager, Amanda Naidoo.

Wembley House is set in the leafy suburb of Wembley in Pietermaritzburg, conveniently situated near the city and in proximity to local acute care hospitals. Specialists throughout the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands refer patients who are discharged from acute care hospitals to Wembley House Sub-acute Hospital if they require further nursing care or therapy. General practitioners may also refer patients who are being cared for at home but are in need of medical treatment and nursing care to Wembley House.

In KwaZulu-Natal, these services are also available at Medicross Procare sub-acute facility in Amanzimtoti, and Highway Sub-acute and Rehabilitation Hospital, which opened in Hillcrest in May this year. “Our expanding sub-acute and rehabilitation network is catering to the growing need for appropriate care for patients who may no longer need acute or specialised healthcare but require multidisciplinary restorative or rehabilitative care until they are well enough to return home,” Dr Pailman adds.

Wembley House has the capacity to care for 16 patients at a time, and is supported by a team of professional nurses, a doctor, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, a speech therapist and dietician.

“The loved ones of our patients are welcomed at Wembley House, where we aim to create a ‘home away from home’ environment, as we appreciate the immense value our patients place on visits from family. We also do our best to support the families, particularly those who have entrusted us with providing palliative care for their relatives. We consider it a privilege to nurse these patients with personalised care, compassion and the utmost respect for their dignity.”

“We are honoured to have been of service to countless patients over the last 15 years and we look forward to continuing this legacy for many years to come,” Sr Langlois says.

Dr Pailman says that Wembley House stands as a sterling example of warmth and professionalism in sub-acute care. “We wish Elaine, her staff and the healthcare practitioners associated with Wembley House all of the very best going forward and trust that they will continue to bring comfort to those requiring sub-acute care,” Dr Pailman concluded.

Ends


Issued by:    Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of Medicross
Contact:    Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, or Meggan Saville
Telephone:    (011) 469 3016
Email:        [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]