A new care unit

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KNYSNA NEWS - The brand new palliative care unit at Knysna Provincial Hospital was officially opened this week by provincial Minister of Health Nomafrench Mbombo.

The ceremony, held on Tuesday 13 April at the hospital, was attended by delegates from the Knysna Provincial Hospital board, the Knysna/Sedgefield Hospice, Department of Health representatives from the Knysna and Bitou sub districts and Knysna Rotary.

The ceremony was opened by Garden Route District Municipality councillor Rowan Spies, who spoke on behalf of GRDM mayor Memory Booysen, who was unable to attend.

Spies, who was born at the hospital and raised in Knysna, spoke fondly of his memories growing up in the town and memories of the hospital too. His speech was followed by that of Dr Andries Brink, medical manager of the Knysna/Bitou sub districts, who spoke highly of the work done by the hospice, with whom the hospital had developed a special relationship.

Photo gallery: New palliative care unit at Knysna Provincial Hospital

"I think few Department of Health medical facilities in the Western Cape, let alone the country, have partnered with an NGO like the hospice to provide palliative care, so this is a unique, special situation," he said.

Provincial Minister of Health Nomafrench Mbombo hands over a sponsored care package to Knysna/Sedgefield Hospice clinical manager Sister Hilary Grey. Photo: Blake Linder

Knysna/Sedgefield Hospice clinical manager Sister Hilary Grey said she was grateful for the new facility.

"The goal of the facility is to provide a place for patients who are too sick to go home, but too well to be in the hospital," she said.

"We now have enough space to make our patients really feel at home by creating a homely environment, that we couldn't in our old facility." The new facility has room for six patients and was made possible in part through donations and fundraising by the Knysna Rotary Club.

Minister Mbombo spoke of the importance of having palliative care in sync with hospitalisation. "In the past, within the South African healthcare system, palliative care has always been a sort of 'step child' to the other types of care," she said. "But now, with facilities such as this. and with people such as in the hospice, this is no longer the case."

The name of the palliative care unit, Lilita, was chosen because it means "light" in Xhosa. "I love this name, because you are now helping to shine the light on the hidden part of the healthcare system," Mbombo said. "Now, the hospital can act as the sun and the Hospice can act as the moon, to provide palliative care patients with light at any time." The minister also visited the proposed site for the new Hornlee Clinic.

Provincial Minister of Health Nomafrench Mbombo cuts the ribbon at the opening of the new facility. Photo: Blake Linder