The New Natalspruit Hospital in Vosloorus, worth US $ 0.16bn, has opened its doors to the public as demolition of the Old Natalspruit Hospital in Katlehong – East Rand, started. The latter facility was found to have contaminants and hazardous materials such as radioactive elements and chemicals that would cause diseases.
The Department of Health in Gauteng noted that special and safety precautions were being taken in the demolition process.
According to the MEC for Infrastructure Development, Nandi Mayathula-Khoza, that kind of work involves high risk, hence, competent service providers had to be sort for. There is also the use of special demolition techniques because of the dominance of Asbestos and dolomite at the site.
There were also structural engineering survey and geotechnical site investigations to be done on the site to determine the procedures to be used, and the conditions at the site. The results for the investigations would be released mid September.
The demolition process is expected to end in December 2014, and the community, plus all stakeholders interested in the use of the hospital land and reuse of equipment salvaged during the demolition, will be kept informed.
Construction of the new facility took 8 years and spans an area of over 7 000m2 with 821 beds. It will offer services such as obstetrics, family medicine, 24 – hour casualty, radiography, gynecology, and an eye-nose and throat clinic.
Referrals to the hospital will be taken from community health centers in the region, district hospitals and various clinics.
