New hospital rising rapidly
2007-11-15
Lise Beyers
THE construction work which is taking place at the Paarl Hospital is proceeding at a rapid pace to ensure that Paarl will have the most advanced regional hospital in the Western Cape by 2009.
The extensions and renovation work which started last year are currently almost 50% complete and it is expected that the first specialist consulting rooms will be open to the public early next year.
This R225 million project will not only include a new out-patient section with specialists, physio-therapists, occupational therapists and a rehabilitation centre, but the number of beds will increase from 250 to 330.
The end product is described as a hightech facility which will rival many private hospitals.
The ultra-modern kitchen which will supply close to a thousand meals a day, has already been completed and it looks more like the kitchen of a five-star hotel than a state hospital.
Currently the new tower block adjacent to the existing building has reached roof height.
Once the new section has been completed, the older section will be emptied and then extensive renovations will take place to this 50-year-old building to modernise it.
The original hospital, which dates back to the 1920’s, and the nurses quarters are also being renovated. The nurses are temporarily being accommodated at Boland College.
The superintendent of the hospital, Dr Breslau Kruger, says that this facility will do Paarl proud and will be adequate for all medical emergencies.
”We are very excited. Even though we are sometimes inconvenienced by the building work, we look forward to the day when the hospital is completed.
”Not only will we have the latest medical equipment and more specialised medical staff at our disposal, but the buildings have been designed to have a comforting effect on all who will use these facilities.
”We have sought the advice of a professional interior designer and landscape artist to make the interior and surrounds of the hospital bright and cheerful.
On completion only Tygerberg and Groote Schuur Hospitals will be bigger than Paarl Hospital.
”Another brand new addition will be a comfortable coffee shop at reception.
”The modern interior will be low maintenance and will thus assist us in keeping running costs of the hospital down.”
Project manager Rodney Brown, said that he was very satisfied with the progress of the project.
”Only the torrential winter rains managed to slow our work down, but in general everything is going according to plan.
”One of the greatest challenges that we have faced, was to keep the hospital running smoothly while construction work takes place. This we have managed to do successfully.”
Although Paarl Hospital will now be a regional hospital, attending to patients from as far afield as Vredendal, Dr Kruger is convinced that the new hospital will be able to handle more patients.
”Currently we do sometimes have too few doctors available to handle all cases in casualty promptly, but we do manage to see to all emergencies rapidly.
”Everything in our power is done to see to patients and when possible we do have more doctors available over weekends in casualty.
”Once the new hospital is up and running our casualty department will definitely have more staff to assist patients.
”No longer will patients with specialised needs have to travel to Cape Town for medical assistance - this will be seen to in Paarl.”
A special meeting will be held on Monday evening at 19:00 at the Paarl Town Hall to inform the public about the project.
More
News
|
