News

Nurses honoured at public and private Cape Town hospitals

A selfless profession in service of humanity

Wednesday, May 13 2015

UCT Private Academic Hospital (UCTPAH) in Cape Town joined hands with Groote Schuur Hospital to host a special combined event in honour of their nurses on International Nurses Day. The Nurses’ Pledge was recited and a symbolic ‘Blessing of Hands’ ceremony, giving thanks for the healing, therapeutic hands of the nurses, was performed. The nurses also received a special surprise when comedian Marc Lottering entertained them at the event.

A separate Nurses’ Day event was also held for the night shift nurses. They were treated to entertainment in the form of a Zumba dance demonstration, music and spot prizes.

“International Nurses Day, on 12 May 2015, provides an opportunity for us all to show our appreciation for the immense contribution of our nurses,” says Shield. “Nurses provide care, comfort and support to patients and their loved ones in their time of greatest need. They are fundamental to the proper functioning of healthcare facilities throughout South Africa. We recognise and extend our thanks to them for the dedication and commitment they show in caring for our patients and within our communities.”

UCTPAH has not only become known in Cape Town for its quality of care, but is also a training hub for South African healthcare practitioners in a joint venture with the University of Cape Town’s Medical School and Groote Schuur Hospital. The partnership has allowed the UCT Medical School’s students and registrars to benefit greatly from the hospital’s training facilities. It has also ensured a cross-pollination of ideas between the different institutions, which continues to take forward our knowledge of medicine in South Africa.

UCTPAH is a 112-bed private hospital that opened its doors in February 2002 as the UCT Medical Centre. It was purchased in August 2002 by a health consortium consisting of the Community Health Group (CHG), Netcare and West Group, and renamed UCT Private Academic Hospital. Netcare went on to buy CHG’s shares and today operates the hospital. Although it is a private hospital, UCTPAH is a teaching as well as a treatment hospital and its affiliation with Groote Schuur Hospital means that it has a very close relationship with the public sector.

“We at UCT Private Academic Hospital are truly thankful for the considerable contribution that our nurses make not only to the hospital, but to the wellbeing of our communities,” concludes Shield. “We regard our nurses as true heroes for without them we simply would not be able to deliver the quality care that our patients deserve.”

 

Ends

Issued by: Martina Nicholson Associates (MNA) on behalf of UCT Private Academic Hospital
Contact : Martina Nicholson, Graeme Swinney, Sarah Wilson or Meggan Saville
Telephone: (011) 469 3016
Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected]