Tenders are expected to go out in February next year for the new R372 million hospital to serve Hanover Park and Philippi, says the provincial health department.

Work is expected to start on the project in 2026 with a completion date set for 2028.

The department provided details on the new hospital during a public information session in Philippi on Tuesday December 3.

The hospital will be built on Govan Mbeki Road, about 1km away from the existing Hanover Park hospital, which will be turned into a wellness centre focusing on prevention of illnesses/diseases, screening, and chronic medication collection, according to provincial health department support services official Nomtha Bell-Mandla.

The new three-storey hospital will be four times bigger than the existing one with more bed space for expecting moms, a recovery area for new moms and babies, a dental unit, a rapid assessment unit, a 24/7 emergency centre, an X-ray unit and a family care unit.

The hospital will also have a large parking area with space for informal traders and gatherings and a taxi drop-off zone, said Ms Bell-Mandla.

The facility will be able to treat about 1124 patients a day. Primary care services will be available from 7am until 4pm daily.

Ms Bell-Mandla said the new hospital, with state-of-the-art equipment, would provide better health-care services and was long overdue. It was being built outside of Hanover Park because there wasn’t a big enough open space for it in the community.

“This will be a full brick building whereas the current hospital is a prefab building. It will look much different and is much bigger and wider to accommodate more people. Our main focus will be on elderly and youth. This hospital will cater for residents from Hanover Park, Philippi, and surrounding areas as well,” she said.

Mitchell’s Plain resident Joseph Jacobs said he hoped Hanover Park and Philippi labourers would have equal opportunities to work on the project.

“Communities need to know what is happening and when it is going to happen. Including learnerships for college students is important, as is women and youth empowerment,” he said.

Another Mitchell’s Plain resident, Dwayne Jacobs, asked what steps would be taken to prevent extortion.

“This hospital is being taken out of one area and built in another where extortion is high. Involve the locals, and there won’t be extortion,” he said.

Hanover Park ward councillor Antonio van der Rheede welcomed the project.

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Tenders out in February for new Hanover Park hospital

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