Life Healthcare committed to serving during lockdown
All Life Healthcare hospitals will remain open and operational during this time.
At Life Healthcare, the well-being of patients, employees, doctors and visitors within the communities they serve is of utmost importance.
The Covid-19 virus is having an unparalleled impact on our way of life, with President Cyril Ramaphosa announcing a 21-day lockdown in South Africa to combat the spread of the virus.
The lockdown will be effective from midnight on March 26 to April 16 and assurance has been given that all Life Healthcare hospitals, including the Life Dalview Hospital in Brakpan, will remain open and operational during this time.
“As the situation continues to evolve, we are frequently consulting with government, our doctors and employees to ensure that our protocols and processes remain relevant for the needs of our patients,” said Dr Charl van Loggerenberg, GM: Emergency Medicine, Life Healthcare.
“This means that all our patients needing urgent health care will receive the quality care that they need at our hospitals.
“Where surgeries are still scheduled to take place, we believe that our doctors will make responsible decisions, with fully informed consent on the part of the patient, as to the necessity for admission to hospital and the timing of surgery in light of the prevalence of Covid-19.
“Patients are advised to contact their admitting doctors to confirm the necessity for admission to the hospital and the timing of surgery as a precautionary measure.”
The lockdown does, however, impact non-essential services and as a result, all in-hospital coffee and curio shops will be closed from midnight on March 26.
“As a responsible corporate citizen, we are ensuring that the risk of infection of all patients, employees, doctors, and visitors to our hospitals is reduced through general Covid-19 screening before entering our facilities,” explained van Loggerenberg.
“This includes the provision of hand sanitisers and a brief verbal travel history and wellness/health check.”
Visiting hours, and the number of visitors, have already been restricted to reduce the number of people accessing Life Healthcare facilities.
The level of these restrictions will be further increased with effect from Friday, March 27, as follows:
- All visiting hours for general wards, ICU and High Care units will be suspended.
- Nursery and NICU: One parent at a time will be allowed to visit newborns.
The parent will be subject to strict screening criteria prior to hospital admission.
- Paediatric Wards: Only one parent at a time will be permitted to sleep-in with an admitted paediatric patient.
The parent will be subject to strict screening criteria prior to hospital admission.
- Critically ill patients: Visitors will be allowed, by exception, and only with the consent of the hospital manager. Visitors will be subject to strict screening criteria and will be expected to wear a mask for the duration of the visit.
Members of the public who are not sick, but are concerned that they may need Covid-19 testing, are urged to consult with their general practitioner or contact the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on the following support numbers: NICD WhatsApp support line – 0600 123 456 OR the NICD 24-hour hotline – 0800 029 999/ 0800 111 132.
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