RESIDENTS of the Ugu District and surrounding areas now have access to high-quality healthcare, thanks to a modern new trauma facility following its official opening at GJ Crookes Hospital in Scottburgh recently.
The building, which was opened by KZN Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, consists of a casualty unit and trauma facilities able to assist up to 30 people per day. The building, which cost R165 million to build, also has an extended staff residence, learning resource centre, laundry and stores department.
MEC Dhlomo said the trauma unit’s facilities were comparable to those in the private sector and that its strategically location would prove a lifesaver.
“GJ Crookes Hospital is located alongside one of the busiest parts of the N2 highway, which also has many accidents. Between Port Shepstone (70km away) and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospitals (50km away), you need a facility like this one, to take care of patients that would otherwise have died if you were to transfer them.
“In 24 hours, it sees an average of 30 trauma or poly trauma (multiple injuries) per day, who can be ventilated, resuscitated and be kept here until they are stable. Some are even discharged from here or transferred.”
Dhlomo appealed to healthcare professionals to go beyond just working at a “state-of-the-art facility”, and ensure that patients are treated with respect, care and dignity.
“We are appealing to them to ensure that the white uniform that they put on must be reflective of a clean, good heart.”
He urged the public to ditch negative social habits such as smoking, and substance abuse, saying that they lead to health complications which prove to be massively expensive to the state, depleting funds that would be channelled elsewhere to improve public healthcare.
He said that whereas cigarettes generate revenue of R9 billion nationally each year, treating cigarette-related ailments costs up to R25 billion. Alcohol generates revenue of R12 billion but it costs the state R40 billion each year to deal with alcohol-related diseases, morbidity and mortality.