WESTERN CAPE NEWS - The new head of Health for the Western Cape, Dr Beth Engelbrecht's appointment came in the wake of a rigorous process to find the right calibre candidate to head the biggest (and perhaps most challenging) department in Provincial Government.
Minister of Health, Theuns Botha, said the current head, Prof Craig Househam, who has provided both stable and visionary leadership in many ways, will retire on 31 March next year.

"During the remaining months of his tenure, Prof Househam will work side by side with Dr Engelbrecht in handing over the huge task of managing this challenging department. This hand-over period is aimed at ensuring maximum stability, continuity and a seamless change in leadership."

Botha said he looked forward to work with Engelbrecht.  “Dr Engelbrecht knows the systems and understands the challenges that lie ahead. I look forward to leading our department with her towards Healthcare 2030, with the strategic objective of Creating Wellness. That is the investment we are making in the health and wellness of future generations.”

Dr Engelbrecht, a qualified medical doctor, is the first female Head of Department for Western Cape Government Health. She started her public health career in 1981 as a medical officer for Greater Bloemfontein area in the Free State Health Department and progressed through the health system to become the Director of District Health Services for the Free State Provincial Government. 

She joined the Western Cape team in 2001 and has been with the Department for the last 13 years in the post of Deputy Director General, effectively responsible as Chief of Operations: with responsibilities that included specialist health services, emergency services, district health services and primary health service.

Botha said she is well accustomed to the responsibility of managing health services which as the Chief of Operations she was responsible for overall management of health services that utilized 88% of total health budget with involved a staff complement of 28 000 and total patient contacts of approximately 18 million per annum.

"Engelbrecht’s depth of management experience will serve the Department very well in the years to come as the Department strives to implement the strategic goals as set out in Healthcare 2030."

She has played a pivotal role in the following projects:

• The establishment of multi-lateral agreements between Province and four universities training health workers;
• Establishment of a Quality Assurance unit – and a specific focus on hospital- acquired infections (in association with private sector partners);
• Implementation of an “alert organisms response system” in hospitals (sms based system to strengthen infection control and containment);
• Implementation of an IT solution for picture archiving in hospitals;
• Chair of National committee to develop tertiary service plan for country.

When asked how she feels about the exciting new chapter in her career, she commented: “I am very fortunate to have an excellent senior management team at the helm of things, many of whom have been my colleagues for a number of years. I am humbled by the enormity of the task, but confident that the team and I will be able to carry forward the excellent legacy left by Prof Househam."

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