New Mediclinic plans suspended

Update

GEORGE NEWS - Mediclinic George confirmed in a statement at the weekend that its plans to build a new hospital in George have been temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hospital manager Kassie Karstens said this is a result of the healthcare sector being forced by the pandemic to prioritise certain functions.

"Mediclinic however remains positive about the long-term future economic outlook within the community as well as the prospects within the health sector and is keen to expand our services within the community," he said.

"We believe that the new project will provide a welcome boost to meet the growing demand for healthcare this region is experiencing."

He gave the assurance that they would proceed with the project as soon as circumstances permit.

The hospital's development application was approved by George Municipality in November last year on land at Mountview Resort in York Street. Five years earlier, its initial application on the sawmill property at Kraaibosch was rejected. It had hoped to open the new hospital in 2018 to cope better with the increasing demand on medical services by George's fast-growing population. As an interim measure, another floor was added to its existing premises.

The cost of the new hospital is estimated at R1-billion and the new hospital will include a cardiology unit.

Mediclinic Geneva is functioning as a Covid-19 vaccination centre as from this week.

Karstens urged members of the public over 60 years of age to register for vaccination. "I would also like to appeal to the community to continue to adhere to all precautions to minimise their risk during the pandemic."

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