R37 Million Renovations at Riversdale Hospital and Clinic Now Complete

The Western Cape Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, officially opened the new portfolio of health facilities at Riversdale Hospital today. These include the Riversdale Hospital and Clinic which both enjoyed extensive renovations during the past four years.

In his address at the inauguration of the newly renovated hospital and clinic, Minister Botha said: "Today's event demonstrates the commitment of Western Cape Government to provide improved health facilities to our people, especially in smaller towns. The growth of this area has brought about greater pressure on the hospital and clinic. In my view, R37 million in the renovations to these buildings is an excellent investment in this town, especially in view of the dependence of surrounding farming communities on this hospital and clinic."

Phase one of construction on the hospital started in February 2007 and was completed in March 2007, during which time the administrative building and ambulance station enjoyed much-needed attention at a cost of R3.97 million. Phase two, which cost R13.7 million, started in February 2008 and was completed in May 2010. The wards, emergency centre and part of the clinic were upgraded. Phase three cost R13.4 million and started in September 2010. During this phase, the rest of the clinic as well as the laundry room was upgraded and will be completed by February 2012.

Riversdale Hospital is a Level 1 district hospital with 50 beds. The hospital has an emergency care centre and a maternity ward which treats antenatal care patients, patients in labour, postnatal patients and newborn babies. The hospital also consists of general wards such as men, paediatric and female. High-risk patients and newborn babies with complications are transferred to George Hospital.

Outreach services such as Orthopaedics, Paediatric, Surgical, Gynaecology, HIV, Psychiatry, Eye Clinics and Family Medicine are rendered by specialists from George Hospital.

The clinic is situated in Van Zyl Street next to the Riversdale Hospital. Construction on the clinic was done in two phases. Phase one began in February 2008 and was completed in September 2010. Phase two started in September 2010 and was completed by the end of September 2011. The 1 561 square metre facility cost R6 million to upgrade.

The Riversdale Clinic was situated in the older part of the Riversdale Hospital. When the hospital was upgraded, it was decided that the old maternity ward should form part of the clinic. With more space, services such as physiotherapy, dental and occupational therapy are now in closer proximity to each other.

The clinic services the 19 537 people of the Riversdale community and surrounding areas.

The upgraded clinic has one large waiting room, five sub-waiting rooms and occupational therapist and physiotherapist rooms. The dental department is very modern. The clinic further boasts five doctors' consulting rooms, eight consulting rooms for nurses, two councillors' rooms, a sifting room, bandage room and a well-equipped pharmacy.

Services rendered at the clinic include primary healthcare, family planning, HIV and TB, ARV, mental health, dietetic services, counselling and advice, oral health, maternal health, women's health, physiotherapy and occupational therapy.

The staff comprises Sister Braaf (operational manager), six clinical nurse practitioners, one professional nurse, one enrolled nurse, two admin clerks, a messenger and three cleaners. Patients are referred to Riversdale Hospital or George Hospital.

The burden of disease in Riversdale is mainly hypertension which is the most common chronic disease.