Date: 02/10/2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Healthcare 2010 - George Hospital revitalisation
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ADDRESSING HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, LOCAL COUNCILLORS AND MEDIA AT THE REVITALISATION OF THE GEORGE HOSPITAL, 3 October 2003
HEALTHCARE 2010: GEORGE HOSPITAL REVITALISATION
Healthcare around the world, like so many other critical government services, is under constant pressure to be more effective, to reach more people, at lower cost. The result in many countries has been significant cutbacks - New Zealand recently removed 25000 people from surgery waiting lists and referred them back to their primary doctors. In the American State of Oregon 100 000 fewer patients enjoy healthcare under the Medicaid system this year than in 2002. South Africa and the Western Cape faces similar challenges in our efforts to match limited resources to growing demand for wider services of the highest quality.
Our Western Cape Provincial Government is absolutely determined to provide World Class healthcare to every person, in every community in our province. Although our provincial health budget rose by almost 11% this year, we know that our resources cannot meet all the needs of our people without far-reaching change in the way our health system operates. This is why our Provincial Minister for Health, Minister Piet Meyer, has introduced HealthCare 2010 - our health plan for the next ten years.
Healthcare 2010 is our conceptual framework for reshaping public healthcare services in the province, to ensure that we provide equal access to quality healthcare for all the people of the Western Cape. It is based on a shift of patients to the most appropriate levels of care, resulting in cost savings as well as considerable improvement in access to care for some of the most deprived communities in our province. In terms of improvements in service delivery it includes the upgrading of our healthcare infrastructure, e.g. through the hospital revitalisation process of which the George Hospital is an important part.
In addition to the need to improve our service delivery against the backdrop of budget pressures, another important reason why HealthCare 2010 has been developed is the rapidly increasing Western Cape population. We have the second highest rate of population growth in South Africa (after Gauteng), both as a result of natural growth and large-scale migration from the Eastern and Northern Cape - a large proportion of these new residents settle in the Southern Cape placing ever greater demands on services like healthcare, especially in towns like Knysna and George along the major transport routes. Whilst there was a 14% increase in the Western Cape population in the five years preceding Census 2001, over the same period there has not been an equivalent increase in the health budget. HealthCare 2010 will allow us to handle more than 12 million primary healthcare visits this year - and more than 180 000 patients and 450 000 out-patient visits at our 36 district level hospitals. That is why I am very pleased today to be able to visit this final R50 million stage in the revitalisation and upgrading of the George Regional Hospital.
Serving the Southern Cape and the Karoo, the George Hospital provides a range of emergency and specialist health services to the more than 462 000 people of the region. From trauma to orthopaedics, from psychiatry to neuro-surgery, the 19 doctors, 294 nurses and 11 specialists of this hospital have a reputation both for excellence and compassion. We know though that they have operated for too long without much-needed infrastructure and equipment. That is why our government has this year allocated R20,5 million for new construction, R36 million for rehabilitation and upgrading and R81 million to hospital revitalisation around the province. This final phase at the George Hospital includes:
* upgrading of the existing theatre complex
* building of a day theatre
* upgrading of the existing B-block wards
* creation of a parking garage
* creation of a new kitchen facility
* conversion of the existing kitchen to a linen store.
Quality healthcare is the cornerstone of strong and growing communities. As part of our Provincial Government's vision of building the World Class Province, which cares for all its people, health and health services are amongst our highest priorities. The expanded service delivery we are witnessing here at the George Hospital is a concrete sign of our determination to deliver on our commitments.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp, 083 778 9923
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Western Cape Provincial Government
3 October 2003
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: Healthcare 2010 - George Hospital revitalisation
EXTRACT FROM SPEECH BY WESTERN CAPE PREMIER, MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK, ADDRESSING HEALTH-CARE PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, LOCAL COUNCILLORS AND MEDIA AT THE REVITALISATION OF THE GEORGE HOSPITAL, 3 October 2003
HEALTHCARE 2010: GEORGE HOSPITAL REVITALISATION
Healthcare around the world, like so many other critical government services, is under constant pressure to be more effective, to reach more people, at lower cost. The result in many countries has been significant cutbacks - New Zealand recently removed 25000 people from surgery waiting lists and referred them back to their primary doctors. In the American State of Oregon 100 000 fewer patients enjoy healthcare under the Medicaid system this year than in 2002. South Africa and the Western Cape faces similar challenges in our efforts to match limited resources to growing demand for wider services of the highest quality.
Our Western Cape Provincial Government is absolutely determined to provide World Class healthcare to every person, in every community in our province. Although our provincial health budget rose by almost 11% this year, we know that our resources cannot meet all the needs of our people without far-reaching change in the way our health system operates. This is why our Provincial Minister for Health, Minister Piet Meyer, has introduced HealthCare 2010 - our health plan for the next ten years.
Healthcare 2010 is our conceptual framework for reshaping public healthcare services in the province, to ensure that we provide equal access to quality healthcare for all the people of the Western Cape. It is based on a shift of patients to the most appropriate levels of care, resulting in cost savings as well as considerable improvement in access to care for some of the most deprived communities in our province. In terms of improvements in service delivery it includes the upgrading of our healthcare infrastructure, e.g. through the hospital revitalisation process of which the George Hospital is an important part.
In addition to the need to improve our service delivery against the backdrop of budget pressures, another important reason why HealthCare 2010 has been developed is the rapidly increasing Western Cape population. We have the second highest rate of population growth in South Africa (after Gauteng), both as a result of natural growth and large-scale migration from the Eastern and Northern Cape - a large proportion of these new residents settle in the Southern Cape placing ever greater demands on services like healthcare, especially in towns like Knysna and George along the major transport routes. Whilst there was a 14% increase in the Western Cape population in the five years preceding Census 2001, over the same period there has not been an equivalent increase in the health budget. HealthCare 2010 will allow us to handle more than 12 million primary healthcare visits this year - and more than 180 000 patients and 450 000 out-patient visits at our 36 district level hospitals. That is why I am very pleased today to be able to visit this final R50 million stage in the revitalisation and upgrading of the George Regional Hospital.
Serving the Southern Cape and the Karoo, the George Hospital provides a range of emergency and specialist health services to the more than 462 000 people of the region. From trauma to orthopaedics, from psychiatry to neuro-surgery, the 19 doctors, 294 nurses and 11 specialists of this hospital have a reputation both for excellence and compassion. We know though that they have operated for too long without much-needed infrastructure and equipment. That is why our government has this year allocated R20,5 million for new construction, R36 million for rehabilitation and upgrading and R81 million to hospital revitalisation around the province. This final phase at the George Hospital includes:
* upgrading of the existing theatre complex
* building of a day theatre
* upgrading of the existing B-block wards
* creation of a parking garage
* creation of a new kitchen facility
* conversion of the existing kitchen to a linen store.
Quality healthcare is the cornerstone of strong and growing communities. As part of our Provincial Government's vision of building the World Class Province, which cares for all its people, health and health services are amongst our highest priorities. The expanded service delivery we are witnessing here at the George Hospital is a concrete sign of our determination to deliver on our commitments.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp, 083 778 9923
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Western Cape Provincial Government
3 October 2003
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
