Red Cross Hospital New Trauma & Medical Emergency Units welcome first patients

After months of anticipation, the newly upgraded and spacious Trauma and Medical Emergency Units at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital welcomed their first patients this week. As vital components of the Paediatric Emergency Centre, staff are working from here around the clock to care for a range of children who have been involved in road traffic incidents, who suffered severe burns, who have severe pneumonia, and who have had seizures. The medical emergency unit see 75% of children who present to the emergency centre. 

The hospital is pleased to be able to care for children in a safer and more comfortable environment, as this will make a difference in the lives of all young patients who need emergency medical and trauma care at the facility. As Janine Mantanus from Athlone explained, she was understandably worried when, on 8 June 2022, she brought in her daughter Saige (4) to the emergency unit after she experienced breathing difficulties. “Two years ago, during lockdown, we came to Red Cross Hospital for the same issue, and I was pleased by the care and treatment we received from the doctors then. Today, the feeling is the same, as the doctors here have again reassured me that we would be fine. It was also a relief to not having to wait long for a bed, while the treating doctor also praised Saige for being a good child because she did not cry after receiving a needle.” 

Dr Anita Parbhoo, CEO: Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and her management team, visited the Trauma and Medical Emergency Units on 8 June 2022, to welcome the staff and clients to their new space and show appreciation for their efforts. “We are all excited that you have finally moved into the Emergency Centre and being able to care for young patients at our facility, particularly as we find ourselves in an unprecedented paediatric surge due to lower levels of immunity to viral infections and poorer baseline nutritional status. We hope that you will enjoy your new space.”

According to Sr Sandra Swart, Operations Manager of the Trauma Unit, the improved bed capacity, and state-of-the-art medical equipment now allow for better treatment of young patients, who are mostly under the age of five. “Our staff have been eagerly awaiting to open the doors of our new permanent facility to patients referred to us or those that reside in our drainage area. My heart is already in this place, and I would like to thank all the donors and others for helping us to provide children with the quality care that they deserve.”

Patients will be treated keeping the provincial triage system and referral criteria in mind. As such Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital is dealing with complex very sick children that are referred to the facility.