Bethesda is now recognised as having the highest standard of service as determined by the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa (COHSASA) said Meyer. "Over the years we have worked hard to improve the quality of our medical services. The five-star COHSASA standards also lays an emphasis on ensuring that the administration of the organisation is sound. Additional safety systems to protect and ensure the ongoing success of Bethesda are now in place and will have to be monitored."
Meyer said that Bethesda started in 2000 as a one-star hospice with a single patient and has developed into a multi-functional organisation that serves approximately 300 patients in the community as well as 152 orphans and vulnerable children. The in-patient hospice can serve 36 patients in the ratio of 29 adults to seven children.
Rev Michiel Burger, the chairman of the board, said Bethesda is there purely to serve the community. "Angela's charity shop, which is situated on the premises, serves a dual purpose as a fundraiser and as an outlet so that our clients can benefit from the generous donations received from the broader George community."
Angela Guillaume, after whom the charity shop is named, visited the centre last week. Guillaume, the former head of the European Union of Woman, was honoured with a CBE on the queen's 1995 birthday honours list, and once again praised Bethesda for reaching the vulnerable sections of society.
The management team of Bethesda, from left: Dawn Jacobs (support services supervisor), Marzanne Cillié (projects manager), Anne Maarman (pastoral supervisor), Madeleine Meyer (CEO), Hester Terblanche (psychosocial manager), Hester Mason (finance manager) and Marita Swanepoel (HR manager). Photos: Myron Rabinowitz
ARTICLE: MYRON RABINOWITZ, GEORGE HERALD JOURNALIST
'We bring you the latest George, Garden Route news'
