GF Jooste Celebrates 30 Years of Service to Communities and New CT Scanner

A combined effort by the Western Cape Provincial Department of Health and the Pinelands Rotary Club has brought the new CT Scanner to the hospital.

"The arrival of such much-needed piece of equipment is great news for the medical and surgical patients at the hospital," said Pierre Uys, Minister of Health for the Western Cape. Many HIV-positive patients who are faced with abnormal neurological signs require this scanner for treatment.

"The scanner will also enable medical staff at the hospital to do patient examinations relatively quick as it will examine 10 patients per day it will in turn reduce the waiting list for patient examinations drastically," Uys said. It is anticipated that the scanner will do about 50 scans per week and the majority of these would be TB and HIV related neurology. "The length of the patient's hospital stay will be reduced by up to 3 days, thus reducing transport and escort costs and time," Uys added.

The CT scanner will be used to detect ailments in three categories of patients:

• Surgical patients (patients with head injuries, abdominal injuries)
• Medical patients (75% of the patients who will be examined by the scanner will be patients with abnormal neurological signs). Infectious disease patients (HIV/AIDS, TB, etc) and patients with tumours on their brain also fall in this category.
• Stroke patients (the hospital has a six-bed stroke unit)

In 1996 the hospital was recommissioned as an emergency hospital as the need for such an emergency facility was critical at the time. This still remains its function today, as there is a high level of trauma cases. Its been 30 years since the hospital opened its doors to the widespread communities it serves. GF Jooste Hospital has developed into not just a hospital but also a place that offers support and comfort to the poor.

Issued by:
Communications (Western Cape Provincial Department of Health)

Enquiries:
Media Liaison Officer to Minister of Health
Herman van der Westhuizen: 082 772 9161

Health Communications
Mark van der Heever: 073 9422 902