Frere Hospital is ready for any Ebola threat that might come to the Eastern Cape, according to the hospital’s CEO, Dr Rolene Wagner.
Frere and Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth were identified by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi as the two facilities to admit and treat suspected Ebola cases in the province.
Wagner said patients identified with symptoms in communities would be brought to the hospital in a special ambulance and admitted through a specified entrance into a special high care unit.
The path from the entrance to the high care unit would be cleared to minimise contact with other patients.
For cases as few as two to three, the isolation units in the high care unit would be used.
However should an outbreak occur, the entire unit would be used and quarantined.
A second scenario would be if a patient should show symptoms at the hospital.
In that case there would be a lockdown, followed by the securing and isolation of the patient where they were found and put into a holding area. Symptoms would be run past a national consultation process and appropriate steps taken to isolate the patient.
The quarantine area has been identified as Ward C1, which is currently used by ear, nose and throat patients. They will be relocated to ward C9 in the next weeks.
C1 was chosen because it has a veranda with a barrier glass and wall that allows patients to interact with loved ones and still be in isolation for 21 days.
Wagner said her staff had been thoroughly trained by the national team and a maximum of 65 beds would be available.
“The likelihood of having Ebola in East London is highly unlikely, but we are ready,” Wagner said.
— vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
VIDEO: Frere Hospital ready for Ebola
Frere and Livingstone Hospital in Port Elizabeth were identified by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi as the two facilities to admit and treat suspected Ebola cases in the province.
Wagner said patients identified with symptoms in communities would be brought to the hospital in a special ambulance and admitted through a specified entrance into a special high care unit.
The path from the entrance to the high care unit would be cleared to minimise contact with other patients.
For cases as few as two to three, the isolation units in the high care unit would be used.
However should an outbreak occur, the entire unit would be used and quarantined.
A second scenario would be if a patient should show symptoms at the hospital.
In that case there would be a lockdown, followed by the securing and isolation of the patient where they were found and put into a holding area. Symptoms would be run past a national consultation process and appropriate steps taken to isolate the patient.
The quarantine area has been identified as Ward C1, which is currently used by ear, nose and throat patients. They will be relocated to ward C9 in the next weeks.
C1 was chosen because it has a veranda with a barrier glass and wall that allows patients to interact with loved ones and still be in isolation for 21 days.
Wagner said her staff had been thoroughly trained by the national team and a maximum of 65 beds would be available.
“The likelihood of having Ebola in East London is highly unlikely, but we are ready,” Wagner said.
— vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
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