GEORGE NEWS - Mediclinic George's 10-year journey to develop a new, bigger hospital is almost over.
The construction project for this new hospital in York Street is well under way, and it is expected to open in the second quarter of 2026, according to the general manager, Celesté Louw.
Plans for the new hospital - initially on a property near the old sawmill northeast of the Garden Route Mall - were announced in 2015, but after a lengthy, unsuccessful battle to obtain municipal approval on that site, Mediclinic relented and started looking for an alternative property. They began afresh with a new application on land at 1 On York.
The initial estimated development cost was R500m. When the builders moved onto the site in September 2023, it had escalated to R1bn.
At the time, the former general manager, Kassie Karstens, said a final decision about the existing hospital building had not been made, but there was a lot of interest from potential buyers. Mediclinic is remaining mum on the future of this building and is not responding to questions in this regard.
They have been pressed for time as their facilities were fast becoming too small for the growing demand for health services a decade ago already. In the interim, while they were looking for an alternative site and waiting for the required approvals, a fifth floor was added to expand the ICU.
The new hospital is a three-storey building of 25 746m² and combines the Mediclinic George and Mediclinic Geneva under one roof. It has been planned so that an additional 6 738m² and 72 extra beds can be added on in the future.
The heart unit will be a whole new addition to medical services in George.
The three-storey building of 25 746m² combines the current Mediclinic George and Mediclinic Geneva.
Louw said among the specialised services offered, the hospital will have a cardiac catheterisation laboratory equipped with the latest imaging technology used to visualise the arteries and heart chambers and treat conditions like coronary artery disease, valve problems and other cardiovascular issues. "This key addition will allow our community to receive the best possible cardiac care without having to travel further afield for specialised treatment."
A day clinic will also streamline day procedures. "Most of our doctors will be operating from the day clinic, and by moving the less acute procedures to the day clinic, we can open up additional capacity in our theatres in the main hospital," said Louw.
The day clinic will have three fully equipped theatres and one procedure or scope room. Louw said the cubicle design, offering 20 beds, will allow patients to recover in privacy before being discharged. Patients will also know the exact date and time of admission, as well as expected theatre and discharge times.
"We appreciate the community's understanding during the build and upcoming relocation, and look forward to a new era for health services in George and the Southern Cape," Louw said.
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