Victoria Hospital to receive R20m revamp
AS VICTORIA Hospital gears up to celebrate 120 years of its existence, a multimillion-rand development is also on the cards.
Victoria Hospital in Alice will have its doctor’s quarters renovated for R20million.
This was revealed yesterday by health MEC Helen Sauls-August at the sod-turning event. She was accompanied by superintendent-general Dr Thobile Mbengashe.
“It will be a 12 -month project because we want to finish it quickly so that our doctors are accommodated. Currently doctors are sharing a kitchen and bathrooms.
“This is phase two of our renovation plans, when we will also demolish derelict buildings.
“Phase one was the fencing of the yard and phase three will be the upgrading of clinical services,” she said.
Hospital board chairwoman Lindiwe Makubalo said they were excited about the renovations.
“One of the hospital’s biggest challenges was the accommodation of doctors. We have seen doctors come and go here because there is no proper accommodation. We also had no senior managers, but that, too, is being addressed,” said Makubalo.
Hospital CEO Lindeka Mangesi said as an old hospital they were faced with infrastructural problems.
“This is a way of retaining staff, because once doctors have comfortable quarters they will be encouraged to stay,” she said.
The health bosses were then taken on a tour of the hospital.
During the walkabout, Mbengashe noted a couple of things that could be changed, including that the hospital should be allocated an industrial grass cutting tractor to cut their grass.
“I see how lighting could be an issue here at night. It should not be difficult to secure proper lights,” he said.
Victoria Hospital is a 110-bed hospital, with currently 62% of the beds occupied. —