Kempton Park Hospital has been closed for 25 years but the Gauteng Health Department plans to reopen it, News24 reports.
In answers to the Gauteng legislature, Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko said there were plans to reopen the 300-bed hospital. The hospital was closed in 1997 because it was underused.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said: "The need for a 300-bed hospital district hospital was identified due to the high demand for primary healthcare services in the area.
"Since the hospital was closed, there has been an increase in the number of patients placing additional pressure on Tembisa Tertiary Hospital, which is the only public hospital in the area."
She added that the department would demolish the current structure and rebuild the hospital.
Nkomo-Ralehoko said the department had asked the Gauteng Infrastructure Funding Agency to help fund the new facility.
She added the proposal was still under consideration and there were no timeframes for the hospital.
Communities near the old facility have continued to receive services at primary healthcare facilities such as Kempton Park Civic Centre Clinic, Spartan Clinic, Birchleigh North Clinic and Birchleigh Clinic, with patients who needed further treatment being transferred to Tembisa Hospital.
News24 – Plans to reopen Kempton Park Hospital
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