Cramped ICU soon a thing of the past
Red Cross Hospital set to expand unit
THE INTENSIVE care unit at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital has become too confined, with insufficient space around patients’ beds, which limits movement. Hundreds of children pass through the hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) every year.
One of these is 21-month-old Qhamani, who for the past two weeks has called the hospital home.
The Gugulethu toddler was admitted to the hospital with breathing problems.
He was only 11 months old when doctors discovered he suffered from a cardiac condition that has enlarged his heart – resulting in respiratory problems and frequent admissions to the hospital.
His mother, Tandiwe, said: “His heart is also too big compared to the rest of his little body. His condition has sadly triggered various health problems for him.”
Qhamani first visited the hospital when he had gastroenteritis and again when he contracted pneumonia, before being admitted for his heart condition.
Although Tandiwe has confidence in the care her son receives at the hospital, the sight of other sick children in ICU and the small size of the unit has saddened her.
“My heart feels broken that there are so many ill children here, it is not right. The ICU is very good, but it needs to be bigger.”
But her worries will soon be over. The ICU, which was built in the 1950s, is being expanded at a cost of R100 million. So far more than 200 people, corporates, trusts and foundations have donated to the project, raising more than R90m.
When construction is completed in two years, the unit will increase to 39 bed spaces, including the needed 10-bed high-care unit for infants and isolation cubicles for patients with infectious diseases and compromised immune systems.
To raise the remaining R10m, the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Trust has launched a public appeal campaign to ask for more donors.
For Tandiwe, the new ICU will give her and many other parents comfort when they are around their children’s bedside.
The chief executive of the Trust, Louise Driver, said: “There are so many machines and equipment around the bed, which leaves little room for family to visit or for privacy while family is at the bedside. The bigger space will mean increased comfort.”
If you would like to donate you can SMS ‘ICU’ to 40465 to donate R20 or visit www.childrenshospitaltrust.org.za