Bethesda Hospice Community Based Care
2 Professional Nurses, 1 Medical Doctor and 35 Carers looking after
+/- 230 patients in the community.
Carers work in Conville, Rosemore, Parkdene, Lawaaikamp and Thembalethu areas.
Profile of Patients:
1. Palliative: AIDS, Cancer and non-curative diseases.
2. Sub-acute: Example: Stroke, COPD, post-surgical, convalescence.
3. Adherence support: ARV, TB, Diabetes, Hypertension,
Future Plans:
Bethesda Medical Centre
a. The establishment of a Comprehensive Physical Rehabilitation service.
This will include the appointment of a Physiotherapist, an Occupational
Therapist and the acquisition of equipment.
The addition of a rehabilitation area to the present Bethesda Medical Centre.
b. Appropriate vehicle to transport patients. (Ambulance)
c. Upgrading of entrance to improve access, especially ambulances.
d. Upgrading of wooden floors and construction of covered walkways.
e. Acquiring beds with cot sides.
f. Improved medical equipment, for example Oxygen Machines.
g. Improve security system, closed circuit television and view of entrances, safety gates at all doors, alarm system.
h. Transport for staff.
i. Cleaning equipment, e.g. polisher.
j. Improving salaries of staff to a level where they are competitive with other institutions.
k. Staff wellness program and debriefing.
l. Electronic database.
Bethesda Community Based Care.
a. Maintenance of full day employment of staff. The present funding from the EU and Fancourt ends on 31 March 2008. The Department of Health will only take over part of the program and staff will have to revert back to half day employment.
b. Vehicles are needed for the Professional Nurses, the Social workers and the
Pastoral counsellors to do Home visits.
c. Nutritional support for patients and their families.
d. Improving salaries of staff to a level where they are competitive with other
institutions.
e. Debriefing and Staff wellness program.
f. Expansion of program in certain areas of George where access to care is poor.
g. Electronic database.
