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
Helena

“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

Donate to Support Children at the Hospital 

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