First Patients to be Transferred to New Mitchells Plain Hospital | Western Cape Government

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First Patients to be Transferred to New Mitchells Plain Hospital

26 June 2013
History is in the making with the uptake of the first patients in the new Mitchells Plain Hospital next week. In preparation, the Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, and Western Cape Minister of Transport and Public Works, Robin Carlisle, hosted an open day on 26 June 2013 for construction, technical and clinical personnel to view the hospital.
 
The first phase of the commissioning of the hospital will start on Monday, 1 July 2013, when patients will be transferred from Carnation and Magnolia wards at Lentegeur Hospital to start the gradual phasing in. The hospital will only be able to treat emergency and walk-in patients from October when the emergency centre opens. Premier Helen Zille will officially open the hospital on 12 November 2013. 
 
Construction began in January 2010. The expected completion was delayed after a fire broke out at the Emergency Centre at the end of last year. 
 
Mitchells Plain Hospital  has been built for the delivery of a quality, full package of district hospital health service to the surrounding community. With 11 wards and 270 beds the facility will reduce the current service pressure on existing health care services within the Mitchells Plain and Klipfontein sub-districts.
 
The construction project has been a massive undertaking by the current Western Cape Government. When Minister Botha became provincial Minister of Health in 2009, he made it a priority to motivate for the earlier construction of the hospital, which was not on the cards for this financial period at the time. “Together with the completion of the Khayelitsha Hospital and now the Mitchells Plain Hospital, we have now made major strides towards better health services for our communities,” he said. “It is in line with our aim to establish a health facility within easy travelling distance for every citizen, whether it be close to a train station or a taxi rank. The people of Mitchells Plain can be proud of their new hospital. It compares with the best in hospital-care internationally.” 
The construction costs is R533 686 490 and the amount spent on equipment is R 99 892 832.
 
Minister Carlisle said the Mitchells Plain Hospital project has met and surpassed empowerment targets, with millions of rands having been earmarked for historically disadvantaged individuals' (HDI) owned companies, including companies owned by local women.
 
The project has allocated:
  • R289 360 985 for work supplied by HDI-owned providers
  • R17 825 055 for local women owned businesses
  • R25 146 943 towards local labour spend
It has also:
  • Secured the services of 42 local contractors from Mitchells Plain and 28 from Philippi
  • Created a total or 5 622 work opportunities, 3 169 of which were for local youth, as well as providing on site and project management training
“As implementing department for health infrastructure, Public Works health facilities manages a total health infrastructure budget of R8,94 million pertaining to 84 capital projects and 240 maintenance projects currently, which will create 5 430 jobs and 600 EPWP work opportunities. We remain committed to delivering health facilities that are accessible and equipped to provide the best service to the citizens of the Western Cape. In line with this aim, the on-going maintenance of health infrastructure remains a priority of this government,” said Minister Carlisle.
 
Inpatient services at the hospital will cover: 
  • 60 medical adult beds 
  • 60 surgical adult beds 
  • 60 obstetrics beds, including kangaroo mother care 
  • 30 pediatrics beds 
  • 20 overnight beds 
  • An Accident and emergency unit; and 
  • General outpatients 
The hospital is located in a high value conservation area, surrounded by five hectares of Cape fauna and flora. Construction workers had to adhere to all the regulations pertaining to the conservation of this sensitive environment. It included a plant and rescue mission to retain the natural habitat. Calcrete stone from the site was used in the architecture and design of the building. Storm water is recharged back to the site through ponds to ensure the natural replenishment of the water and surrounds. 
 
Green building features were integrated into the design to ensure energy- and cost savings benefits, such as the use of time switches and movement and daylight sensors to avoid unnecessary burning of lights. 
 
The site is also protected by an electrical fence, security booms and surveillance cameras.
 
The newly appointed CEO of the hospital is Hans Human, former CEO of Mowbray Maternity Hospital.
Media Enquiries: 
Health
Hélène Rossouw
Cell: 082 771 8834
 
Public Works and Transport
Siphesihle Dube 
Cell: 084 233 3811