Paediatric surgical out-patient clinic at Baragwanath Hospital

Posted on 7 December 2017

In May 2015, the Infrastructure team from Mediclinic Southern Africa was approached by Professor Jerome Loveland, a Paediatric Surgeon working between Mediclinic Sandton and the Department of Paediatric Surgery at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand. His request was a simple one – could the team assist with the technical aspects of designing and building a new Paediatric Surgical Out-Patient clinic at Baragwanath Hospital.

Paediatric Surgical Out-Patient clinic at Baragwanath Hospital

The paediatric surgical facilities at that time were not conducive to the delivery of optimal care – consultation and counseling, investigations and procedures were restricted by the space and amenities available. There was also no space for parents that needed to overnight while their children were in hospital. The Paediatric Surgical Out Patient Department is where doctors consult with all new, non-urgent referrals, and plan their care going forward. They also follow up with all patients after discharge as necessary – which may be a long term requirement. The department currently consults more than 1500 patients a month in the clinic.

In May 2015, together with a group of paediatric surgeons and other non-medical members of the board, Professor Loveland launched the non-profit organisation Surgeons for Little Lives with the aim of raising sufficient funds to improve the level of care being provided in state paediatric surgical wards to world class standards.

This is where the shared expertise of Kobus Jonck and the infrastructure team from Mediclinic Corporate Office began adding value. Graceland Architects and TMS Quantity surveyors, with whom Mediclinic has an existing 20 year relationship, were requested to join the team as they have been integral to many of Mediclinic’s projects. Plans and proposals were drawn up, together with projected costings for the build. Prof Loveland took these plans and began raising the necessary donations to support the construction. A little more than two and a half years later, the clinic has opened its doors and the children of the hospital are beginning to reap the benefits.

‘The shared expertise was a simple request,’ says Kobus Jonck, General Manager Infrastructure for Mediclinic Southern Africa, ‘Our team is involved in optimising infrastructure such as hospital design, space and resources on a daily basis. Mediclinic has 52 hospitals and an additional 2 day clinics in Southern Africa and we are always working to design upgrades or refurbishments as facilities require them.’

The infrastructure team not only provided concept design, they also project managed the out-patient facility development – something that would have cost Surgeons for Little Lives in excess of R820 000 had they chosen an external supplier. The final phase of this project included the procurement of key equipment at negotiated prices – a service that normally carries a 5% service fee to the client. An additional R100 000 was saved through Mediclinic providing these additional services.

But this story does not end with the opening of the new paediatric surgical clinic – it continues with the next step in Prof Loveland and Surgeons for Little Lives’ dream – a lactation unit that will include space for mom’s to breastfeed as well as a milk bank to store this essential milk for babies within the neonatal unit. Concept designs have already been provided by Mediclinic and the fundraising efforts for this development are well underway. The project management fee attached to the lactation centre project is expected to reach more than R900 000, but through the collaboration with Mediclinic these additional costs will be spared.

For Kobus Jonck this is an ongoing relationship where experience and expertise can be carried over to the benefit of far more patients. The Western Cape Department of Health has also consulted with the team, asking for input on room layout and design to optimise resources and create the best atmosphere for the patients.

Prof Jerome Loveland has reinforced his appreciation of this relationship, ‘I feel confident each time I consult with the team at Mediclinic that our needs are going to be carefully considered and the best solution is going to be found to bring our plans on paper into a reality for our patients.’

We look forward to seeing more of the special developments happening at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital – and how the expertise of the private sector can be applied to ensure that both private and public facilities are of world class standards.