Temporary Du Noon Clinic Will be Operational in October

Following meetings with representatives of the Du Noon health committee, the tender process for the temporary Du Noon clinic in Racing Park, Montague Gardens, is now complete. Renovations to convert the warehouse into a health facility are expected to be complete two months from now.

Robin Carlisle, Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works, said that the design is complete and all zoning issues have been attended to. "This facility is desperately overdue, and the Department of Transport and Public Works will pull out all the stops to get the temporary facility operational, and to complete the new full-line Du Noon Community Health Centre by June 2014," said Minister Carlisle.

"The delays are a direct result of the failure of previous National Public Works Ministers to transfer the land for the clinic. That is now behind us, and in short order the people of Du Noon will be getting top-class healthcare delivery exactly where they need it, in the community itself," added Minister Carlisle.

One of the conditions of the tender award was buy-in from the community. A meeting was held with the health committee this week, 17 July 2012.

A key concern was pedestrian safety when crossing Potsdam Road, especially with the IRT bus lane construction which has already started. The City of Cape Town's Roads Department agreed to institute measures to safeguard pedestrians crossing the road and construction areas. SAPS is also aware of the safety mitigation measures around Potsdam Road.

The temporary facility infrastructure is being funded by the Western Cape Government, and will be staffed and operated by the City of Cape Town. The facility, while housed in an existing warehouse building, will include all the standard service components of a typical primary healthcare facility, which would include:

• Large patient waiting area.
• Patient admissions area.
• Universal access toilet facilities.
• Women and child health unit with a secure outdoor play area.
• Infectious diseases unit.
• Pharmacy.
• Observations, treatment, consulting and counselling rooms.
• Staff accommodation.

The facility will have a secure arrival forecourt with a covered waiting area for patients, as well as a small parking area.

Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, said that he was keen that health services to the people of Du Noon are restored. "The current situation is causing additional patient load at Somerset Hospital and other surrounding health facilities. This is a rapidly growing node serving the communities of Du Noon and Doornbach. We are concerned about their access to health amenities and equipment. While we are waiting for the new community health centre, the temporary facility is a major improvement over the sub-optimal conditions at the old clinic. Now we will be able to treat our patients with dignity."

Status of Permanent Du Noon Community Health Centre in Montague Gardens

Following the signing over of land by the National Public Works Minister, Western Cape Government Health and Transport and Public Works are now fast-tracking the process to build the permanent new Du Noon Community Health Centre.

The site earmarked for the new permanent Du Noon Community Health Centre is in Senna Street, Killarney Gardens, opposite the Killarney racetrack. The site is located close to the bus and taxi routes used by the people who commute daily from other parts of the metro to Montague Gardens and Killarney Gardens.

Tender bids closed on 11 July 2012. Contractors should be on site by September this year. The planned date of completion is June 2014.

The facility will cover approximately 4 000 square metres. It will be a full-time facility operating 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Services will include:

• A comprehensive emergency unit.
• Pharmacy.
• Eight-bed maternity unit and six-bed kangaroo mother care unit.
• Women and child health unit.
• Infectious diseases unit.
• Observations, treatment, consulting and counselling rooms.
• Oral health unit (dentist).
• Medical imaging unit (x-ray).
• Social and psychiatric counselling.
• Rehabilitation unit offering physio and occupational therapy.