Health
With reference to the recent fire at the Mitchells Plain Hospital:
- whether she has received any reports relating to the fire; if so, what are the relevant details;
- how advanced is the investigation into the source of the fire;
- whether a contractor has been appointed to refurbish the Emergency Centre at the hospital; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- whether her Department plans to fast-track the refurbishment of the Emergency Centre; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
- how is her Department ensuring that service delivery at the Emergency Centre is not hampered and what additional support is her Department giving to the hospital to ensure that neither the appointment of a contractor nor the refurbishment process is delayed?
- Western Cape Government: Transport & Public Works (WCGTPW) has conducted an internal investigation but due to the sensitive nature of the issue, has not yet made that available to WCGH. They have also asked the Professional Service Provider concerned to conduct their own investigation. In addition, they have asked another service provider to conduct an independent investigation.
See 1. above. Also, not that, as this stage, from various opinions, it would appear that the cause was an electrical fault in the ceiling.
- A contactor was originally appointed to undertake construction work at the Hospital consisting of two phases: Fit out of the Fourth Floor Ward and the Upgrading of the Ventilation System of the Emergency Centre. The contractor has been on site since 10 October 2016. The first phase of the contract (i.e. the Fourth Floor fit) out reached completion at end of February 2018. A delay was experienced with handover of the ward due to the delay of the issue of the Occupancy Certificate by the City of Cape Town. However, this was received on 28 March 2018.
The project is ready to move into Phase 2 – Upgrading of the Ventilation of the Emergency Centre. A separate contract will be issued to the same contractor to undertake the remedial work resulting from the fire The original scope of the project included the upgrading of the ventilation system, which impacted on ceilings, light fittings etc.
As is noted above, the fire started in the ceiling and caused extensive damage to services in the ceiling (e.g. electrical and electronic reticulation, water pipes and ventilation ducts). As the original scope of works included work in the ceiling, the remedial work due to fire damage can be included without considering an additional contractor.
- The refurbishment of the Emergency Centre will commence within April, as soon as the Hospital has occupied the 4th Floor (anticipated date for handover to the Hospital is 5 April 2018).
- A temporary Emergency Centre has been set up in the Out-Patients Department of the Hospital. Minor alterations are required to ensure a proper fit out of the area suitable for the use as a temporary Emergency Centre. The costing for these alterations has been submitted to the Department on 03 April 2018 and is in the process of being approved. Work can commence immediately on approval.
