Staff Reporter
The first phase of a COVID-19 field hospital designed to ease pressure on existing health facilities is expected to open next month.
“The hospital is to prepare for the anticipated overwhelming demand for hospital beds in future in the province as scientists are predicting the surge in the number of positive COVID- 19 cases,” Health MEC Montseng Tsiu said when she virtually presented her supplementary budget vote speech for the 2020/21 financial year.
The hospital is expected to have a total of 4 252 beds.
“This will be introduced in phases, with the first phase of 936 beds to start in August 2020,” Tsiu said.
Other projects have been identified across the province to help improve the capacity of the health system to get it ready to handle the impact of the pandemic.
“The other health facilities have minor infrastructure works to be performed in order to either repurpose some existing beds or establish additional ones in preparation for the projected surge in COVID-19 admissions,” she said.
The other projects include:
- Free State Psychiatric Complex
- Universitas Hospital House Idahlia and Basement Parking
- Pelonomi Hospital Mancofs Halls and Block M
- Botshabelo District Hospital
- Dr JS Moroka District Hospital
- Itumeleng Community Health Centre
- Albert Nzula District Hospital
- Diamant Hospital
- Winburg District Hospital
- Bongani Regional Hospital
- Thusanong District Hospital
- Boitumelo Regional Hospital
- Tokollo District Hospital
- Mantsopa MDR
- Senorita Ntlabathi District Hospital
- Mofumahadi Manapo Regional Hospital
- Nketoana District Hospital
- Elizabeth Ross District Hospital
- Dihlabeng Regional Hospital
- Phekolong District Hospital
- Itemoheng District Hospital