Expansion and refurbishments unveiled at Mamelodi healing facility

The Mamelodi Regional Hospital has been blessed with newly extended wards and refurbished units such as radiology and casualty units.

The refurbishments were unveiled on Thursday, September 19.

The MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, officially opened the newly extended wards and refurbished units and also briefed the media about her department’s infrastructure projects and the new developments in Information Communication Technology (ICT).

Nkomo-Ralehoko said the extension included a refurbished pediatric ward, female medical ward, surgical ward, eye clinic, antiretroviral clinic waiting area, HOD offices, intern restrooms, radiology department, triage waiting area, and a casualty waiting area.

She said this update aligns with the Gauteng government’s ongoing commitment to improving health facilities, as emphasised by Premier Panyaza Lesufi during his State of the Province Address and the Health Budget Vote in August this year.

“The Gauteng government is committed to improving the infrastructure of hospitals and clinics throughout the province.

“We understand that infrastructure is the backbone of our healthcare system, particularly as Gauteng’s population continues to grow,” said Nkomo-Ralehoko.

She said according to the latest statistics from Stats SA mid-year population estimates for 2024, Gauteng was home to nearly 16 million residents, many of whom rely on public healthcare services.

“In preparation for the implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI), we recognise the urgency of upgrading existing facilities and constructing new ones to meet increasing demands.

We are officially unveiling five newly refurbished areas and three extended wards here at Mamelodi Regional Hospital,” she said.

“These projects will significantly ease the pressure on the hospital, allowing us to cater for more patients.

We want to assure the people of Gauteng that our plan to improve hospitals and clinics in the province is in full swing to better serve the communities,” she said.

The Female Medical Ward, Male Surgical Ward, and Pediatric Ward have been extended to increase the bed capacity to take in more patients.

At Steve Biko Academic Hospital, all entrances have been refurbished to enhance the hospital’s image.

“We have also completed the construction of two new clinics, Mandisa Siceka in Kekanastad, and the Boikhutsong Day Clinic is 80% complete.

Renovations at Eersterust Community Health Centre and the Dental Unit at Stanza Bopape Community Health Centre are also nearing completion.

“The refurbishment of Jubilee Hospital is our top priority. We are renovating wards 5, 6, and 7, as well as public restroom facilities.

At Tshwane District Hospital, we completed theatre renovations, and work is underway to improve the Mental Health Ward and nurses’ stations across various wards,” she said.

They are planning to build four new hospitals in Soshanguve, Daveyton, Orange Farm, and Diepsloot.

“These hospitals will add to the existing 37 public hospitals in Gauteng and contribute positively to expanding access to healthcare and bridging the healthcare gap in township areas.

This initiative will also address regional disparities in healthcare provision, which are a crucial step towards achieving our vision of a universal healthcare system,” she said.

The Soshanguve Hospital LL and portions have been identified, and suitability confirmation is expected soon.

Modernisation of the healthcare system:

Nkomo-Ralehoko said their efforts to modernise the healthcare system and streamline healthcare delivery through e-health are progressing well.

“Our goal is to build a healthcare system that meets immediate needs and establishes a sustainable foundation for future generations.

We are leveraging digital health opportunities to create a world-class, digitally enabled health system that offers equitable, high-quality, and efficient healthcare services to all Gauteng residents.

She said they have successfully implemented modules across 33 Community Health Centers (CHCs) and all 37 hospitals. This was to enhance patient referrals and streamline information sharing, thus improving overall efficiency within the healthcare network.

“At Mamelodi Regional Hospital, the Clinical Management Module has already been deployed, with additional rollouts planned for other facilities expected to be completed by April 2025,” she said.

“This initiative will ensure standardised clinical operations across the province and allow for better tracking of patient care, more accurate diagnosis, and better treatment outcomes.

This project focuses on the comprehensive digitisation of paper-based patient records.

Nkomo-Ralehoko said they want to create a digital repository that “enhances accessibility, security, and efficiency in managing patient records while also ensuring compliance with privacy and security standards”.

She added that over 130 000 patients’ files have been digitised for improved accessibility and management.

“Many of our hospitals face the challenge of overcrowding, poor patient bookings, and queue management.

This makes public hospitals prone to criticism due to a lack of efficiency in responding to the high demand in an orderly manner.”

She said the Health and Wellness department has introduced a queue management system to enable them to have a record of patients who visit the healthcare facilities, whether documented or undocumented.

Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS):

The department is undertaking a project to implement a sustainable Radiology Image and Data Management solution aimed at enhancing the efficiency and standardisation of radiology workflows.

This solution will integrate radiology data into the patient’s overall health record, ensuring long-term retention and reproducibility of patient radiology data, including images and results.

By improving inter-hospital referral processes and optimising data sharing, the system seeks to transform how radiology services are delivered.

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