Statement by Provincial Health Minister Pierre Uys: Opening of 30 New Level 1 District Beds at Karl Bremer Hospital

One of the Department of Health's visions, as outlined in Healthcare 2010, is to improve the quality, efficiency and access to Health Care for the Western Cape population , Uys said.

Karl Bremer Hospital was identified to open the planned 30 Level 1 District beds and this forms part of the department's Christmas Deliverables campaign for 2005.

These beds will be managed with its own budget. The beds at Karl Bremer Hospital are currently fully operational providing beds for mother-infant pairs. The service is a district hospital level service, which enables infants to be discharged from neonatal intensive care earlier and relieves enormous pressure from Tygerberg Hospital.

Minister Uys said this forms part of a programme called "kangaroo mother care" and allows mothers to assume much greater responsibility for the care of their babies and in addition promotes breastfeeding, enhances mother infant bonding and reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infection Support services such as catering and laundry will be supplied by existing services within the hospital. All these services will be supplied to patients mainly from Khayelitsha and surrounding areas.

Issued by:
The Directorate Communications
Office of the Superintendent of Health, Western Cape
Department of Health

Herman van der Westhuizen
Media Liaison Officer to the Minister of Health
Tel: 021483 2627