New hospital causes headaches for neighbouring residents
Hospital management for the new facility in Northcliff say extended construction permits have been granted to help expedite completion date.
The new Johannesburg Surgical Hospital has been causing a headache for residents due to noisy after-hours construction.
Videos and soundbite recordings have been shared by frustrated community members in WhatsApp groups and the like.
Arnold Meyer lives on Lily Avenue and says residents on his street and those along Waugh Avenue have taken the brunt of the construction’s effects. “After-hours work and on weekends have been difficult to live with. Communication and PR from the hospital to local residents in the immediate vicinity has been dismal. I can’t understand why they have not engaged with us- directly with updates and information during the build in a bid to get us on board. Instead, we are told to ‘grin and bear it’ by the hospital and councillor.”
Hospital manager Alex Daneel says, “We are fully aware of the disruptions caused during the construction phase and are committed to mitigating any inconveniences to the best of our abilities. Rest assured that we are taking measures to ensure that the construction work is carried out with utmost sensitivity to the surrounding area.
“We understand the inconvenience caused during this process, especially in the evenings, and we sincerely apologise for any disruption to our neighbours and the community.”
He says they have secured extended working hours from local authorities to enable work to be completed as quickly as possible.
Some of the works being carried out are part of the Northcliff Medical Complex to accommodate the extensive parking needs of the hospital.
Neil Ferguson, a resident says, “The hospital is a meaningful asset to the area. It is a high-quality investment rather than another strip mall or housing complex. It will bring decent customers which will hopefully benefit other businesses in the area. It will also be a well-maintained area which is great.”
Ward 88 councillor Nicolene Jonker previously said, “The hospital sounds amazing. I know there have been a lot of queries and complaints, but it seems like the hospital has considered many of these challenges and we look forward to such a prestigious facility in our area.”
The hospital is set to open its doors to the public in September.
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