State-of-art hospital for Tshwane

05/12/2014. Tshwane District Hospital CEO Naing Soe speaking to the pretoria News at his office. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

05/12/2014. Tshwane District Hospital CEO Naing Soe speaking to the pretoria News at his office. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

Published Dec 8, 2014

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Tshwane - complete transformation of Tshwane District Hospital over the past four years has taken it from an ordinary public health facility to a first-world hospital of which staff, patients and city residents are proud.

The hospital has received accolades and awards least among them being the best hospital in the district – in recognition of its cleanliness and level of care.

Efforts to make it the best health facility in the province hit another milestone when new and improved features meant to please patients and staff were unveiled.

Last week chief executive Dr Naming Soe led a delegation of visitors on a walkabout.

They viewed, among others, new lifts, a well-equipped gym and braai area for staff, a new ward and the upgraded outpatient department.

Soe said the hospital was geared towards bringing the treatment of communities in the capital up a notch.

But the upgrades and renovations shown off were just a continuation of the improvement of the outlook and service delivery by the hospital.

According to Soe, one could never separate the needs of patients and that of staff – the happiness and satisfaction of the one directly affected the other.

“When patients sit in uncomfortable chairs and suffer cold drafts or uncomfortable heat, they get angry and swear and fight with staff,”he said.

“When staff are faced with unfavourable working conditions and are constantly unhappy and unappreciated, you have low morale, attitudes become bad and patients suffer.”

Improving conditions for both was therefore a win-win situation, he said.

Soe walked through the doors of Tshwane District Hospital in 2010, outside of which was no flag and paint was peeling off the walls, which were dirty and stained from leaking water pipes.

There were no clear parking areas and the pavements were cracked and broken. There were patches of grassy areas, and in some areas were piles of old equipment and clothes.

Inside he found uneven, discoloured and filthy walls and floors; toilets were dirty and broken while the furniture in offices and wards were in an equally sorry state.

He immediately recognised the real task at hand and got down to revitalising the hospital.

Petty cash was used to upholster and fix what he could and he took the maintenance team for training in the fields they had to be proficient in.

Meanwhile, he applied for funds to revamp everything, and over the past four years the hospital has been turned into one that looks new.

Wards were given new beds, lockers and other amenities; all offices furnished comfortably and fitted with air-conditioners, while water coolers have been placed at every corner. “The output from comfortable staff is the best,” he said.

Patient waiting areas were also completely overhauled

.

“All patient areas are air-conditioned and doors automated; they have TVs and water coolers,” Soe said.

State-of-the-art equipment was bought for different departments, including the eye clinic.

For in the X-ray department, a mobile X-ray machine that moves at the press of a button, was bought. It goes to patients in casualty and the wards.

Soe said the environment played a vital role in the treatment of patients. “We have pot plants, wall pictures and TVs, the floors are always clean and our staff friendly and happy, and this ties in perfectly with the efficient service they get.”

The exterior also got a facelift, with walls and palisades getting a lick of paint, grounds being paved and covered, and parking provided for almost every staff member.

Soe and his team cleaned up grass and other elements that could have harboured dangerous pests.

Covered waiting areas for patients were also added. “They should not be made to wait in the heat or cold,” said Soe.

Other areas of pride include two new Volvo generators and four chiller plants, both the best in the business, meant to ensure the constant supply of electricity, air-conditioning in the theatre and the Kangaroo Mother Wards.

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@ntsandvose

Pretoria News

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