GEORGE NEWS - Since local organisation Bethesda was awarded four-star status by the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA) in December 2010, the staff have been working diligently for their next pre-COHSASA (Council for Health Services Accreditation of Southern Africa) survey visit from HPCA, which took place from 9 to 11 May. This survey is for possible five-star accreditation for the institution.

Although the official results of this visit will be received at a later stage, Mandy Lucas from Bethesda confirmed that "the HPCA did however give us a verbal feedback which was very positive and highlighted the areas which we will be working on before the official and final visit from COHSASA which will take place later this year."

The survey was done on service elements like leadership and governance, human resources, administrative support services, risk management, quality management and improvement, access to care and patient rights, holistic care, interdisciplinary team approach, medication management, support services and fundraising.

A five-star status will confirm that Bethesda has high quality service which is important to patients and families, clinical staff and volunteers, managers, donors and policy makers. It will also make Bethesda more eligible for corporate and overseas funding due to the delivery of the quality palliative care they provide. Five-star status will be a huge success for Bethesda whose vision is to provide holistic, compassionate and sustainable care that improves the quality of life for everyone using their services.


Barbara vd Merwe (Bethesda board member), Rev Michiel Burger (Bethesda board chairman), Madeleine Meyer (Bethesda CEO), Bishop Donald Harker (Bethesda board vice-chairman), Jacoba Muller (Ward councillor), Michael Lindt (singer), Kobus Wolmerans (Bethesda board member) and George Executive Mayor Charles Standers attended Bethesda’s accreditation survey last week.