Upgrade of C2 Burns Unit
Upgrade of C2 Burns Unit
Background:
The Specialist Burns Unit (Ward C2) at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital is the only specialised burns unit treating children under the age of 13 with burn injuries in the Western Cape. It is also a referral centre for patients with severe burns from all over South Africa, due to a lack of similar facilities in South Africa and southern Africa. As the only dedicated paediatric burns specialist unit in Africa, more than 3500 children with serious burns are treated at the Hospital every year. 85% of the patients are younger than six and 98% are from disadvantaged communities.
Problem:
Built in 1956, the ward has had no major upgrades since then. It has only one high care ward and there is a lack of facilities for parents who stay with their children. It is no longer able to meet the requirements of modern burns treatment and rehabilitation, making an upgrade to this area critical.
Solution:
Upgrading the specialist C2 Burns Ward will provide better patient outcomes and emotional support to the children, significantly reduce the risk of cross-infection, improve long term rehabilitation for patients, and better conditions for children and their parents, whilst they're admitted and will contribute to the positive prognosis of the patient.
Budget:
The cost to build this Ward was R11.1 million plus R2 million for equipment.
Timeline:
The Specialist C2 Burns Unit was opened on 15 September 2011 after 10 months of construction.
For more information on this project please click here
