The Stellenbosch Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU) at Stellenbosch Provincial Hospital was officially opened with a ceremonial ribbon cutting undertaken by Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness Dr Nomafrench Mbombo on Tuesday (30 May).
The newly launched addition has been operational since February this year and forms part of several infrastructure projects underway at the hospital. Currently, the total budget approved for the hospital renovations amounts to R35,925 million, of which 28,6% has been spent to date, with construction expected to be concluded by the end of May next year.
The APU comprises four men and four women beds as well as a four-bed seclusion area. With district hospitals originally not being designed to accommodate APUs, this designated area will greatly assist the hospital in addressing the growing mental health burden in the community.
In addition to the APU, a brand-new lift has been installed. Currently, the maternity ward is being upgraded and will be completed in the coming month. Afterwards construction work will commence with the following:. The Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) and theatre;. The B, C and paediatric wards; . The staff and lecture rooms; and. A new refuse area for medical waste.
Medical Manager of Stellenbosch Hospital Dr Natasha Blanckenberg said: “Stellenbosch Hospital is an 85-bed district hospital with 205 staff members who work daily to ensure quality care. In the 2022-’23 financial year alone 7 715 patients were admitted, with 32 000 patients treated in the emergency centre and a further 18 332 outpatients visits recorded. During the same period, 713 operations were conducted in the theatre and 1 651 babies were born in the facility. Additionally, 300 patients were admitted with severe mental illness.
“While these projects do not increase the number of beds, it improves the quality of the infrastructure to make it a safer and more positive environment in which to care for patients,” Mbombo said. “This has ensured a beautiful and fit-for-purpose building that has a positive effect on staff morale. The addition of an APU and these infrastructure projects will revitalise this important piece of infrastructure.
“Stellenbosch Hospital services a feeder area of approximately 200 000 people where, as with all areas in the province, the health demands are increasing.”
During the visit, the impact of load shedding also became apparent. During the 2022-’23 financial year, approximately R1,6 million was spent on diesel for their generator. As load shedding intensifies our facilities are forced to divert much-needed resources to mitigate an issue that is external to their operations. Nonetheless our dedicated staff and management are ensuring that the hospital continues to deliver quality health care for our residents.
