Minister Grant visits construction projects at Groote Schuur Hospital

On 3 July 2018, Minister of Transport and Public Works Donald Grant and officials conducted oversight visits to the newly renovated neonatal and ultrasound departments, and the under-construction Observatory Forensic Pathology Institute (OFPI) situated at Groote Schuur Hospital. Both projects have been commissioned by the Department of Transport and Public Works (DTPW) for the provincial department of health.

The R43 million project to renovate the neonatal and ultrasound departments commenced in August 2017, and Phase 1 reached practical completion in May 2018. The project is being funded by the Red Cross Hospital Trust. Once the project is completed in December 2018, it will boast five ultrasound procedure rooms, three counselling rooms, a neonatal intensive care unit with two high care wards, nursing stations, and “kangaroo” mother care areas. A key part of this project is that critical services such as vertical service panels can be isolated without disrupting services to other incubators.

The R281 million project to replace the Forensic Pathology Services laboratory in Salt River commenced in May 2017 and is expected to be completed in June 2019. Once complete, OFPI will provide Level 4 forensic services aimed at extracting, analysing and preserving the integrity of evidence for use by the criminal justice system. The facility will include 26 autopsy tables – four dissection suites with six tables each, as well as two teaching and training dissection suites. There will be 360 refrigerated body spaces, 180 admission fridges, and 180 dispatch fridges. In addition, the building will be able to accommodate up to 100 visitors to the bereavement centre per day; up to 10 waiting undertakers; and up to 20 students at a time.

Both projects are creating a number of short-term of short-term work opportunities and skills training for local people.