R9m upgrade for EL hospital trauma unit

LIFE St Dominic’s is undergoing expansion and upgrades to the value of R9-million.

Drilling and clunking can be heard on the premises as a project which will see the trauma unit and treatment areas being enlarged, is under way.

Life Healthcare Border-Kei region spokeswoman Ailsa Thorpe said: “The project will see an enlarged patient treatment area with detailed focus on patient flow and operational ergonomics in the trauma unit.

“In addition, the unit will boast a new primary care facility to cater in a more efficient manner for patients with less acute ailments.”

Hospital manager Laro Fourie took the Dispatch team on a minitour of the hospital.

“We have planned for this expanded unit to cater for all of our patients to ensure that our hospital continues to deliver world-class care to its community. The growth of our hospital is thanks to the continued support of our doctors, Fourie said.

In the new setup, patients will be assessed, and those needing emergency care will be treated in the trauma unit, which will soon have two isolation cubicles, and those needing less urgent treatment, will go to the primary care unit.

“I can guarantee you this will be one of the biggest emergency units in private healthcare,” he said.

The hospital’s admission and reception areas are also being expanded to accept more patients.

staff and patients,”

Though there will not be an increase in beds at the facility, there will be an increase in emergency unit bays, Fourie said.

Thorpe said: “The trauma unit at Life St Dominic’s Hospital is classed as a level 1 trauma unit which means that it is able to treat all types of injuries and has the relevant specialists on hand to consult patients with varying illnesses”.

The facility has two intensive care units and a specialised cardiac intensive care unit with a theatre and a cardiac catheterisation laboratory.

Life Healthcare regional manager Bruce Janssens said numerous new projects were under way at Life hospitals in the region.

“Life Healthcare is investing R63.5-million over the next 12-month period on expanding and further upgrading of the technologies and equipment in our hospitals.”

Janssens said the group would continue to apply for more beds through the department of health.

All construction is planned to be concluded by the end of March. —