Red Cross Children's Hospital Honours Long-Serving Employees

Professor John Hewitson has performed thousands of surgeries in his 30 years' service at the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital and Groote Schuur Hospital. Professor Hewitson, the Head of the cardiac unit, is one of 35 long-serving employees who were honoured at an awards ceremony on September 27.

Professor Hewitson said that he was surprised to find that he had already been working in the public service for 30 years and estimates that he has performed about 6 000 surgeries during this three decades of service.

"I didn't perform many in the 80s because I was still training but in the 90s I did about 250 cardiac surgeries a year and about 150 cardio thoracic surgeries. After that I did about 150 a year because I had more help," he said.

Also honoured on the day were five employees for 40 years' service, 12 for 20 years' service and 18 for 30 years' service.

Western Cape Minister for Health, Theuns Botha, made special mention of the staff being awarded for 40 years' service on the day. He said: "Yasmine Stellenboom is called the matron of dialysis. She teaches everyone in the renal and transplant ward how to do dialysis."

"Jean Roman, Galima Abdol and Charmaine Stanley are all nursing assistants in ICU, where the sickest children are treated. They are the staff members who work most closely with patients daily, looking after their hygiene and nutritional status, making sure they are comfortable and not in too much pain. They are also responsible for initiating resuscitation. They provide therapeutic environments for patients and families, checking patients' vital signs, taking care of admissions, discharges and referrals. Nursing assistants also accompany patients for medical procedures."

"Mr George Hope is a support services technician. He sterilises and services life support equipment such as ventilators, making sure that it is ready for patient use."

Eight people were also honoured by the Hospital Facility Board for working at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital specifically for 20 years.

"We feel proud that you have been true public service ambassadors who have served our people selflessly with dignity and humility. You have lived the Batho Pele principles and raised the standards of this hospital," said Dr Lungi Linda, the hospital's CEO.

"Thank you for your loyalty, professionalism, high work ethic, accountability, respect for human dignity, caring attitude and empathy."