Meet Mrs Helena Van Graan, Assistant Director: Finance Department of Health Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
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“I truly believe that children are our future and that we have a responsibility towards creating the best environment for them to develop and grow. By doing my job daily with dedication and passion, I contribute to this vision in my own small way.”
Mrs Helena Van Graan is the Assistant Director of Finance at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and started her career in 2004 working for the Department of Health at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town. As a young girl, she dreamt of becoming a nurse or social worker, but she soon realised that she did not have the stomach to deal with blood or the associated social issues that clinicians bravely manage daily.
Since she has always enjoyed working with figures, securing the position within the Department of Health has been a blessing and has allowed her to tie her work to her childhood dream in her own special way.
Mrs Van Graan started working at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in 2012 and her goal is to see a closer working relationship between the Hospital’s clinical, nursing, administrative and support staff, especially since they are all working towards the common goal of providing an excellent service to the community.
“Our team is very aware that any non-action on our side indirectly impacts on the service delivery provided to our patients and thus we do not hesitate to work later to get the job done. Taking the above into consideration, I feel that a lot more emphasis should be focused on team building and development of skills and leadership for staff. I would also like to see our administrative areas being more user-friendly for both staff and our clients so that we can serve them to the best of our ability.”
One of Mrs Van Graan’s concerns relates to the waiting lists for patients at public hospitals and the increased burden on the present staff. Budget constraints places further strain on the situation as limited funding, results in limited staff.
“We, as citizens of this country, can only improve the conditions of healthcare if we understand that we have a responsibility towards paying the charged tariffs for services rendered; in taking pride and ownership of the institutions in our areas as well as taking responsibility in general.”
Balancing work, family and further studies is of course a challenge especially when you are dedicated to solving patient queries at a time when their lives are very stressful. “Fortunately, I have a very supportive family and team of colleagues who assist me greatly. Family time is very important to me and I thus try to leave work behind once I leave the office, but is sometimes easier said than done.”
Mrs Van Graan believes that it is important to create a positive and supportive environment for all staff and to acknowledge each one’s contribution to the overall success of the Hospital. “It is truly a world class institution and the compassion shown across the board by all levels of staff towards the patients is truly inspiring.”
Mrs Helena Van Graan, Assistant Director: Finance Department of Health
Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
“I truly believe that children are our future and that we have a responsibility towards creating the best environment for them to develop and grow. By doing my job daily with dedication and passion, I contribute to this vision in my own small way.”
“I truly believe that children are our future and that we have a responsibility towards creating the best environment for them to develop and grow. By doing my job daily with dedication and passion, I contribute to this vision in my own small way.”
Mrs Helena Van Graan is the Assistant Director of Finance at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital and started her career in 2004 working for the Department of Health at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town. As a young girl, she dreamt of becoming a nurse or social worker, but she soon realised that she did not have the stomach to deal with blood or the associated social issues that clinicians bravely manage daily.
Since she has always enjoyed working with figures, securing the position within the Department of Health has been a blessing and has allowed her to tie her work to her childhood dream in her own special way.
Mrs Van Graan started working at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital in 2012 and her goal is to see a closer working relationship between the Hospital’s clinical, nursing, administrative and support staff, especially since they are all working towards the common goal of providing an excellent service to the community.
“Our team is very aware that any non-action on our side indirectly impacts on the service delivery provided to our patients and thus we do not hesitate to work later to get the job done. Taking the above into consideration, I feel that a lot more emphasis should be focused on team building and development of skills and leadership for staff. I would also like to see our administrative areas being more user-friendly for both staff and our clients so that we can serve them to the best of our ability.”
One of Mrs Van Graan’s concerns relates to the waiting lists for patients at public hospitals and the increased burden on the present staff. Budget constraints places further strain on the situation as limited funding, results in limited staff.
“We, as citizens of this country, can only improve the conditions of healthcare if we understand that we have a responsibility towards paying the charged tariffs for services rendered; in taking pride and ownership of the institutions in our areas as well as taking responsibility in general.”
Balancing work, family and further studies is of course a challenge especially when you are dedicated to solving patient queries at a time when their lives are very stressful. “Fortunately, I have a very supportive family and team of colleagues who assist me greatly. Family time is very important to me and I thus try to leave work behind once I leave the office, but is sometimes easier said than done.”
Mrs Van Graan believes that it is important to create a positive and supportive environment for all staff and to acknowledge each one’s contribution to the overall success of the Hospital. “It is truly a world class institution and the compassion shown across the board by all levels of staff towards the patients is truly inspiring.”
Mrs Helena Van Graan, Assistant Director: Finance
Department of Health
Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
