Mthatha hospital unveils upgraded paediatric unit

R30m investment sees the addition of 10 beds

Life St Mary’s Private Hospital in Mthatha this week unveiled a newly upgraded and state-ofthe-art paediatric unit aimed at ensuring a better experience for mothers and their children. The facility was upgraded at a cost of R30m. Addressing the media after a tour of the facility on Thursday, hospital manager Sive Jama said the upgrades followed other recent expansions and upgrades to the hospital which made it a 157-bed private hospital with a 24-hour accident and emergency unit, intensive care unit, operating theatres, a maternity and paediatric unit and medical/surgical wards.

“The R30m investment sees the [paediatric] unit enlarged with the addition of 10 beds,” Jama said.

“This unit was designed to enhance patient experience and care. It now boasts 32 beds.”

Among the upgrades was the installation of additional isolation cubicles allowing for total isolation of patients. Jama said this was to prevent cross-infections among patients as some might have TB.

“It also includes the installation of additional oxygen points to accommodate patients’ required increased oxygen flow while not requiring to be accommodated in the intensive care unit.”

He said the additional oxygen was essential in the management of Covid-19 patients.

The upgraded unit was not only bigger in size but had also been designed with specific emphasis on paediatric care and the provision of support for anxious parents.

Jama said all the renovation projects had further enhanced the hospital’s service offerings. It also meant that patients received comprehensive healthcare.

The construction of additional doctor consulting rooms and management suites had also been completed.

Jama said the latter investment was aimed at addressing the demand for doctors’ consulting rooms and offices, of which there was a serious shortage in Mthatha.

Life Healthcare Group regional manager in the Border Kei, Mathews Moavodi meanwhile said growth remained a key strategic intent of the group and that investments into Life St Mary’s Private Hospital ensured they were able to continue with the provision of excellent care in new, state-of-the-art facilities.

“In addition, the hospital’s recent renovation and upgrade projects ensure that we continually attract and retain highly-skilled specialists and nursing staff to deliver the best in healthcare services.”

He said the expanded paediatric unit had already attracted new specialists, including paediatricians, a paediatric surgeon, a paediatric cardiologist and a paediatric neurologist.

“The completion of this project is the culmination of the hospital’s strategy to enhance its services offerings over the last eight years,” Moavodi said.