ALTHOUGH a new CEO has been appointed at King Edward hospital, repairs at the hospital following the 2017 storm are still on-going. This was revealed during a press briefing this week where the MEC for Health Dr Sibongiseni Dhloma announced that the total cost of repairs was estimated at R100 million.
“Plans for the redesigned interior of the theatres and S-Block wards have been finalized. Construction has had to be accelerated to restore services back to normal and construction in surgical wards is expected to be completed by December 2018. Theatres are expected to be finalized in February 2019 and the ICU and High Care are expected to be finished in April 2019. The hospital has had to move patients and/or procedures due to the impact of the storm,” said Dhlomo.
He said some services had to be rendered off-site using spare space and capacity at other hospitals. Major orthopaedics cases are done at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital, Maxillofacial surgery and Cold surgery is done at St Aidan’s Hospital and post-natal mothers are transferred to St Aidan’s and Clairwood hospitals.
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Some medical patients, including dermatology and haematology patients, are admitted in two wards at King Dinuzulu Hospital, while the more acute patients who still need intensive investigations are admitted in two wards that are available at King Edward VIII hospital.
“We would like to plead with the public to use health facilities near their homes and only come to King Edward VIII hospital when referred. This will assist the hospital in using beds for patients who need the expertise of specialists. There are big plans to build a new King Edward VIII Hospital and a Medical School at a site in Cato Manor, but that is a project of the National Department of Health, and the Department of Higher Education, which will unfold with time,” he said.
Dhlomo also announced the appointment of Dr Thami Mayise as the new CEO of King Edward VIII Hospital. He will assume duty on 1 December.
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