The Eastern Cape health department signed a R600 million public-private partnership (PPP) deal with the Netcare hospitals group, providing for total refurbishment and upgrading of Grahamstown's Settlers Hospital and a brand new hospital for Port Alfred.

The agreement was signed by Health MEC Nomsa Jajula and Netcare chief executive officer Dr Richard Friedland, who said the first phase of the project would take about 12 months, and full construction about two years.

It is the second hospital PPP negotiated for the Eastern Cape, the first one having been the Humansdorp Hospital.

The private partner will manage the hospital facilities for 15 years after construction, as well as managing certain key medical units such as casualty.

The facility management will include the provision of all "soft services" such as catering, cleaning, linen and laundry, as well as all maintenance and replacement of facilities and equipment.

Value-added services to be provided include a wellness and anti-retroviral clinic, a joint care unit for victims of violence and the provision of student sponsorships.

Work at the 219 bed Settlers Hospital will include the construction of a new theatre complex with the addition of a new third theatre and recovery area, an improved emergency /casualty section and a single new entrance area.

An important feature of the upgrade will be making the hospital more user-friendly, with easier access to emergency services, hospital registration, out-patient areas and pharmacy.

Support services will be improved, including the extension of the nurse's home to assist the hospital in attracting and retaining staff.

The parties said improved patient flows and service delivery had been "the key drivers" in deciding to build a new hospital at Port Alfred that would have 60 public beds and theatres, maternity, labour and paediatric wards and an easily accessible outpatient facility.

"The hospital will be designed on the basis of modern health principles, replacing an outdated facility not suited to current demands."

The old facility will remain fully operational until the new hospital has been built, so obviating the need for patients to possibly have to commute to Grahamstown or further.

In terms of Monday's agreement, full private facilities will be established at both institutions in addition to the upgrading of the public facilities.

The new facilities will consist of a four-bed maternity ward and 26 bed general ward at Port Alfred and a 32 bed private patient facility at Settlers that will include a six-bed high care/intensive care facility and specialised neo-natal intensive care ward.

The private hospital will provide the full range of hospital services to private patients who until now have had to travel to either East London or Port Elizabeth.

"A key requirement of the department in permitting the inclusion of the private facilities is that private and public facilities are of the same standards and are visibly indistinguishable," a statement read.

Eastern Province Hereald