- The City of Cape Town has announced plans for a new clinic in Hanover Park, set for completion in 2028.
- This state-of-the-art facility will provide essential healthcare services, including 24/7 emergency care.
- Community members recently gathered to discuss the plans, which will improve healthcare access for nearby areas like Lansdowne, Manenberg, and Philippi.
Tender processes are set to begin next year for the construction of the new Hanover Park clinic.
The three-storey, state of the art facility will be located in Govan Mbeki Drive, a kilometre from the existing facility and will offer easier access to patients from Lansdowne, Manenberg and Philippi (“New clinic in Athlone”, People’s Post, 17 September).
On Thursday 24 October, residents were invited to a community engagement in Freedom Square, where they could see the full plans, raise concerns and engage with officials.
Provincial minister for Health and Wellness Mirelle Wenger says these engagements are essential.
“It will be a really long construction that will take a few years to build, but ultimately what it is designed to do is increase access and the type of care that residents in this area can access,” she says.
“Communities and the department should work together on this and we are very happy to be here to engage with the community, answer any questions and to also share our thinking on how this project will roll out,” she says.
READ | New Hanover Park Community Health Centre to enhance healthcare services by 2028
Health committee chair Maureen Augustine says they initially objected the move to the new premises before the decision to keep the existing facility was communicated.
“We were especially worried about the elderly people who could not travel, our chronic people and the 24 hour service,” she says.
Situated along what will soon include more accessible transport with the nearby inclusion of the MyCiTi infrastructure is another positive.
The existing facility was opened between the late 70s and early 80s and services around 16 000 patients per month.
- Outpatient services: Monday – Friday: 07:00 – 16:00
- Emergency Centre: Monday – Sunday: 07:00 – 19:00
- Midwife Obstetrics Unit (MOU): Monday – Sunday 24/7
- Acute and Chronic Care
- Emergency Care and X-rays
- Maternal and Child Health
- Mental Health
- Oral Health
- Rehabilitation Therapy
- Social Work Support
- TB, HIV, STI and other Infectious Disease Screening, Testing and Treatment
- Women and Men’s Health
- Youth Friendly Health Care
Wenger says the new facility will operate a 24/7 emergency centre with primary care services remaining in the same time frame of 07:00 to 16:00.
It will be able to treat an average of 1 124 patients per day.
The plans include robust non-clinical support services such as secure pre-, sub-, and main- waiting areas, public restrooms, reception, more parking, and a records facility.
The current facility will be converted into a wellness centre aimed at providing some care for residents, such as collection of chronic medication and youth clubs.
The construction is set to start in 2026 and is aimed at completion in 2028.
