A COMMISSIONING committee for Cecilia Makiwane Hospital’s R1.8-billion development has been established to oversee its transition to a modern, state-of-the-art healthcare facility.
The committee is made up of CMH’s management team, Coega Development Corporation (CDC) which is the implementing agent of the project, and provincial health department officials assisted by national officials.
The provincial department of health said responsibilities of the committee would include buying new medical equipment and furniture for the hospital, establishing a new organogram, employing skills and transferring patients to a new building.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, project leader and CMH chief executive Dr Mthandeki Xamlashe said the committee had three main responsibilities: change management, social mobilisation and introducing and maintaining the new hospital.
“The most challenging role has to be management of change because it is the most crucial. We are dealing with people and businesses.
“We need professional people who are friendly and will be able to give out the best service to people.
“It is no use to have a new building if we still have the same negative attitude from staff,” he said.
The hospital is being constructed in different phases and the kitchen, laundry and nurses residence has already been completed.
The original hospital building, built in 1972, is expected to be demolished.
Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the committee would also oversee general maintenance of the new facility.
“The hospital was built under the apartheid government and the building is like a building for animals,” said Kupelo.
“We are planning to extend it and make it a structure that is suitable for humans.”
Once completed the hospital will have 630 beds – 530 for the regional hospital and 100 for a separate psychiatric hospital.
There will be staff accommodation, too.
“In the new hospital, patients will be able to call in and book for appointments to avoid the current crisis of having 900 people arriving at the same time and demanding services. We will have the highest level of service in the province,” Xamlashe added.
Coega head of communications Ayanda Vilakazi said the project was likely to be completed in July 2015.
“The project has created 1117 jobs in its initial process and a further 1200 jobs are anticipated to be created during the course of implementation of the main hospital,” said Vilakazi. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
Committee set to oversee CMH’s R1bn development
The committee is made up of CMH’s management team, Coega Development Corporation (CDC) which is the implementing agent of the project, and provincial health department officials assisted by national officials.
The provincial department of health said responsibilities of the committee would include buying new medical equipment and furniture for the hospital, establishing a new organogram, employing skills and transferring patients to a new building.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, project leader and CMH chief executive Dr Mthandeki Xamlashe said the committee had three main responsibilities: change management, social mobilisation and introducing and maintaining the new hospital.
“The most challenging role has to be management of change because it is the most crucial. We are dealing with people and businesses.
“We need professional people who are friendly and will be able to give out the best service to people.
“It is no use to have a new building if we still have the same negative attitude from staff,” he said.
The hospital is being constructed in different phases and the kitchen, laundry and nurses residence has already been completed.
The original hospital building, built in 1972, is expected to be demolished.
Health spokesman Sizwe Kupelo said the committee would also oversee general maintenance of the new facility.
“The hospital was built under the apartheid government and the building is like a building for animals,” said Kupelo.
“We are planning to extend it and make it a structure that is suitable for humans.”
Once completed the hospital will have 630 beds – 530 for the regional hospital and 100 for a separate psychiatric hospital.
There will be staff accommodation, too.
“In the new hospital, patients will be able to call in and book for appointments to avoid the current crisis of having 900 people arriving at the same time and demanding services. We will have the highest level of service in the province,” Xamlashe added.
Coega head of communications Ayanda Vilakazi said the project was likely to be completed in July 2015.
“The project has created 1117 jobs in its initial process and a further 1200 jobs are anticipated to be created during the course of implementation of the main hospital,” said Vilakazi. — mamelag@dispatch.co.za
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