Tygerberg Hospital’s ICU

The Department notes the recent media report stating that Tygerberg Hospital’s ICU is full.

We would like to advise that the hospital should not be seen in isolation from the provincial plan in managing the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an integrated plan, leveraging all available resources, in the province. The total number of beds in the whole system needs to be considered.

The Western Cape has 2 162 general care beds and 150 ICU beds that exist in Central and Regional Hospitals across the province. Currently, there are 143 patients admitted to ICU in both public and private hospitals, including the 23 at Tygerberg Hospital.

The province’s network of beds and expansion of bed capacity makes provision for persons who require ICU admission, which includes the collaboration with the private sector. This was set out in the presentation made to the media by Head of Health, Dr Keith Cloete, yesterday (see attached).

Network of Critical care (ICU and HC) beds for severe cases:

• Existing 150 critical care beds within public sector
• Additional 100 critical care beds to be created within public sector  
• Public sector to purchase 300 beds from private sector
• Private sector (own beds) 300 beds

The conversion of the CTICC into a temporary hospital facility that will provide some 850 general care additional beds at the peak of the pandemic is well underway. We will open additional temporary hospitals along the R300 in the Metro, in Khayelitsha, and in the Cape Winelands that collectively provide an additional 616 beds.

As our curve rises towards the peak, and more people get infected, our focus will be on protecting vulnerable people, and those at high risk, including healthcare workers and those with co-morbid conditions such as Diabetes. For full details on this health response strategy, see presentation attached.

Download here:
Presentation digicon 20 May 2020

ENDS