Radiology complex for Red Cross kids
CHILDREN will be the recipients of worldclass radiology and nuclear medicine treatment following the unveiling of a multi-million rand Medical Imaging Department at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital.
The new department consolidates the services of the hospital’s existing radiology and nuclear medicine departments. These services are accessed by every department, ward and clinic.
Prior to construction, the services were split over four sites on two separate floors, negatively affecting patient flow and space.
The R51 million was equally funded by the provincial government and the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Trust – the fundraising arm of the hospital.
Dr Tracy Kilborn, the head of the clinical unit of paediatric radiology, said the previous departments were not only small but made it impossible to fit in all the imaging equipment. It was also dull and not childfriendly.
“Our original radiology unit opened in 1956 with only one X-ray machine and three staff members. As our services expanded, so did our equipment and staff.
“As the staff and patient numbers increased, we had to split services into four different sites and on two different floors. But this was not ideal… not only did this setup negatively affect patient flow, but it caused a lot of inconvenience for staff who had to make fast and accurate diagnoses.
“The building was also not child According friendly and often, when going for a scan or X-ray, these children had to stare at the ceiling… there were no murals on the walls whatsoever,” she said.
The new department is child-friendly with “decent waiting rooms”, and the facility has also been designed to ensure that children with potentially contagious infections are not a threat to others.
It boasts new X-ray rooms, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and nuclear medicine units.
Premier Helen Zille, who opened the facility, said the service would revolutionise the treatment of children who needed imaging services.
Zille, who described her visit to the hospital as a “feel good experience”, said the project demonstrated the success of public and private partnerships in the province.
“The service will revolutionise how we treat and the time we take to treat these children,” she said.
Louise Driver, chief executive of the Children’s Hospital Trust, said not only would the new department improve services, “it would provide adequate space to facilitate more patients, and enhance the experiences of both the children and staff ”.