SA: Raising the Bar on Healthcare
One of the world’s largest hospitals is receiving a makeover and vastly improving its footprint. In a move to upgrade the quality and breadth of services provided by Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, the Gauteng Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works and Gauteng Department of Health have commissioned broad sweeping changes at the renowned hospital.
When it comes to some of the largest medical facilities in the world, the United States has Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Thailand has Bumrungrad International and South Africa has Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital. Situated in Johannesburg’s famed Soweto township, the hospital has been in existence since the 1940s and was recently renamed commemorating the late Apartheid struggle political hero, Chris Hani.
There are various reasons for the hospital’s upgrades, one being that this medical facility forms part of the government’s hospital revitalisation programme aimed at providing world-class public medical service on par with the heightened service associated with private institutions.
There are a number of hospitals under the jurisdiction of the Gauteng Provincial Health Authorities, which are currently receiving upgrades or are in the planning phase. These include Zola/Jabulani Hospital, Mamelodi Hospital, Tshwane District Hospital, Steve Biko Hospital, Natalspruit Hospital among others.
CHB Hospital’s upgrade was considered a priority as it is currently the only hospital in the area and is frequently inundated with patients from the massive township, home to over 1 million residents. Aimed at alleviating this pressure, construction has commenced on the new Zola/Jabulani 300 beds District Hospital, also located in Soweto.Soweto is inline for global standards in healthcare with the extensions of Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and the newly developed Zola/Jabulani Hospital.
The blueprint of better healthcare
There is a masterplan for new developments in the entire CHB Hospital precinct. The first phase which commenced in 2005 and recently completed in June 2009 includes new emergency/trauma units; radiology, pharmacy and outpatient development.
These components were selected based on the ailing condition of the existing services. The new components will feature the latest in medical technology in the hospital’s endeavor to provide superior medical treatment.
Upon completion the hospital will be the first facility in Gauteng operating an MRI Scanner and will also feature a high-pressure rehabilitation pool with hydro massage for physical therapy. Additionally, the X-ray department will depart from the traditional method of using x-ray film and in its place use the innovative digital x-ray methods, which dramatically reduces radioactive emissions and associated costs with buying film for x-ray analysis.
This phase includes a campus of four-storey new buildings around an existing 9-storey adminstration building. For continuity, the existing adminstration building will undergo internal refurbishments and will upgrade the buildings’ services such as electrical connections, telephones, lifts and air-conditioning as well as cosmetic changes to the office furniture and repainting of walls.
The new wards will include the accident/emergency trauma; radiology; audiology; out-patient development; pharmacy; speech therapy and a training facility. There will also be a children’s ward exhibiting a welcoming environment via its walls with animated drawings and child-friendly furniture.
Though seeming frivolous, it is envisaged that this design will relax and reduce children’s anxiety taking their minds off the serious medical treatments they are to receive.
Being one of the province’s teaching facilities’ for the next generation of medical professionals, the hospital will have training rooms accessible for medical students to receive both theory and practical training.
Both structures will be interconnected by a link bridging the two structures together.
There are more phases of development in line for CHB hospital master plan that will include new maternity wards still under planning stage with other phases tentatively scheduled over the next 5-10 years.
Resuscitating the Environment
A number of energy-efficient solutions were implemented into the design including solar water heaters, window glazing and translucent roof-sheeting allowing an abundance of natural light, while reducing the dependence on electricity.
Additionally, the new building has a building management system (BMS) regulating the building’s lighting, air-conditioning, heating and other components, effectively optimising use of the hospital’s resources.
Zola/Jabulani Hospital
The main impetus for the development of Zola/Jabulani hospital, is to relieve the tremendous pressure on Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital’s staff and facilities.
Set for completion in February 2011, the hospital is a level 1 facility with 300 beds and will have the necessary components such as maternity wards, paediatric wards; obstetrics and gynaecology; radiology; pharmacy; outpatient care; accident and emergency department as well as rehabilitative facilities and victims’ support centre.
The hospital features ground plus four levels and the design, by Hospital Design Group (HDG)/ Consultium JV, have attempted to position related components within proximity. Most of the hospital’s clinical facilities are located on the ground and first floors, including the main administration, admissions, pharmacy, outpatient facilities and medical wards. The second floor comprises mainly of surgical , orthopaedic and paediatric wards, while the balance of the building on floors 3 and 4 feature the step-down wards for patient recovery.
Upon completion, the building will be a modern, streamlined development exuding high-quality materials comparative to prominent private hospitals. The hospital’s immediate catchment area will be the primary beneficiaries of the new Zola hospital and “it will be a shining example of an outstanding facility that will be recognised for many days to come,” states Rudolf Roos of HDG.
Enhancing Service Delivery
The new innovations at Chris Hani Baragwanath and the new Zola/Jabulani 300 beds District hospital achieve more than just propeling the facilities to achieve global standard,
they also add credence to the public sector’s ability to deliver quality,and full range health services to citizens whom previously thought such care could only be met at distant private hospitals.
