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HEALTHCARE: NEW SITE FOR FACILITY
Day hospital to relocate
TARRENLEE HABELGAARN @LeeLaVidaLoca
Plans to relocate the Hanover Park Day Hospital have been set in motion. This comes much to the relief of Lansdowne patients, who say they avoid the local public health facility as they fear travelling into the heart of the sometimes volatile area. Health department spokesperson Sithembiso Magubane confirms the current facility is not suitable and cannot be upgraded to an acceptable standard. In addition, two incidents of stray bullets whizzing through the day hospital's prefab walls have also been reported within the last three years. For these reasons, the department is currently investigating three premises to house the new facility. These are a portion of a school site adjacent to Jan Smuts Drive, the corner of Lansdowne Road and Hanover Park Avenue and an erf situated at the corner of Hanover Park Avenue and Athwood Road. Lansdowne patients say any location more central to the two feeding communities would be ideal. Ruth Inglis (67) says she previously walked from her Lansdowne home to the day hospital to collect her medication, but now opts to use her “pension pennies” for a private doctor after dodging bullets earlier this year. “Hanover Park is dangerous,” she insists. “Besides the gunshots, I have been robbed mere metres away from the front gates, and someone once stole my purse from my bag while I chatted to someone a street away.” But her brush with death in February was the final straw, she says. “This area can quickly turn into a warzone, which is unfortunate as I do feel they provide good service. I would feel much safer travelling to a facility centrally located between the two areas
than go to the heart of Hanover Park.” However, community worker Gigi Richards says the hospital is currently located on a prime spot. “Even though people from Lansdowne use our facility, I don’t think it must be moved closer to them. What is wrong with where it is situated at the moment?” she asks. “It is close to the bus stop and easily accessible for patients. If the move is owing to gang violence, people must remember shootings can happen anywhere.” Klipfontein District Health Forum chairperson Isgaak Kamaar counters this, saying as long as the facility isn’t on the outskirts of Hanover Park, a relocation is vital. “If the hospital remains in its current location it will always be in the firing line and at risk of being hit in crossfire,” he says. Magubane says the current plan is to complete the new facility by March 2017. The relocation of the facility will not impact on operating times. Hanover Park Health Forum chairperson Elizabeth Bantom says a new facility is long overdue. “I am delighted. This is what we need to protect the doctors, nurses and patients of this hospital,” she enthuses. Of the three premises being investigated, Bantom feels the site situated on the corner of Hanover Park Avenue and Athwood Road would be the ideal option. “That location is central and most accessible for ambulances and patients. If the hospital is relocated to the outskirts of Hanover Park, it would be more difficult for people to get there, especially at night,” she adds. To create an environment where staff and patients feel safe, the department is in the interim securing the facility by extending the two metre high boundary wall with a 0.6 metre metal plate. This plating will also be fitted to the sliding entrance gates and is scheduled to be completed by next week. The department will also be installing CCTV cameras, viewing and monitoring equipment as well as replacing the security guardhouse. These upgrades are scheduled to be completed by the end of the month.
MINDING THEIR BUSINESS: Home business owners from Hanover Park to Retreat claim “inspec tors” from DTB Trading are approaching them to register their businesses with the company, apparently saying if they do not comply, their businesses would be shut down. But City of Cape Town officials say these home industries simply need a council licence to operate their enterprises. See full story on page 6. PHOTO: TARRENLEE HABELGAARN