Paarl Hospital fire to cost R50m to remedy

IT WILL cost the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness an estimated R50 million to repair the damage caused during the Paarl Hospital fire, which is expected to span over a 12-month period.

A month after the blaze, deemed arson following the arrest of psychiatric patient Morné Dampies, provincial health minister Mireille Wenger confirmed a full restoration project for the Outpatient Department (OPD).

She said portions of the facility that had minor damage are currently receiving restoration, with contractors on-site: 

Wenger explained: “Some parts of the hospital’s Outpatient Department (OPD) sustained severe damage and will take time to repair, while other areas experienced only minor damage.

“A number of contractors are currently on-site to prepare affected parts of the hospital for safe use. This includes minor repairs and painting, debris removal, and the restoration of ceilings, lighting, and sections of the HVAC system that were damaged in the fire.”

Wenger detailed that the full restoration of the OPD is a long-term project.

“The cost to repair the damage is estimated at R50 million, and it is expected that it will take 12 months to repair the OPD,” she said.

“A 20-point improvement plan has been compiled by the hospital and aims to improve and streamline current OPD services while the rebuild is underway, which will ensure the continuity of services.”

Wenger explained that all clinical outpatient services have resumed, and outpatients are being seen in the ground floor waiting area at the main entrance and then escorted by porters to the various temporary clinical areas. This includes: Orthopaedics, Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT), Internal Medicine, Dermatology, Surgery, Stoma Clinic, Urology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, and Ophthalmology.

She added that the only services that are not operational at the moment are Audiology and the Department of Home Affairs (birth registrations). These services are expected to resume within the next week. 

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has since confirmed that accused, Morné Dampies is a psychiatric patient.

Eric Ntabazalila, Regional Communications for the NPA, explained that via Dampies' family, it was established that he was, in fact, a patient at the hospital in the psychiatric ward and whether he would require an evaluation.