HOSPITAL AND CLINIC SERVICES
Primary Health Care clinics
At Zithulele we are passionate about trying to ensure that high quality care is accessible to all our patients. This means that we run an extensive outreach programme, with most of our disciplines serving 12 out of our 14 clinics in some way. Our doctors provide care and follow up at clinics, the dentist manages uncomplicated cases, the dieticians run diabetic clinics and follow up malnourished children, the rehabilitation therapists conduct home visits and follow up patients at the clinics, linking in with community disability workers, an optometrist forms part of the NGO sponsored Grace Vision primary eye care programme, our audiologists take screening and follow up to the clinics and even our pharmacists are getting in on the act, offering support for drug supply and ordering.
Many of our clinics still struggle with staffing, stock and continuity but we are excited about our slowly improving relationships and the impact it has on the care our community receives.
At Zithulele we are passionate about trying to ensure that high quality care is accessible to all our patients. This means that we run an extensive outreach programme, with most of our disciplines serving 12 out of our 14 clinics in some way. Our doctors provide care and follow up at clinics, the dentist manages uncomplicated cases, the dieticians run diabetic clinics and follow up malnourished children, the rehabilitation therapists conduct home visits and follow up patients at the clinics, linking in with community disability workers, an optometrist forms part of the NGO sponsored Grace Vision primary eye care programme, our audiologists take screening and follow up to the clinics and even our pharmacists are getting in on the act, offering support for drug supply and ordering.
Many of our clinics still struggle with staffing, stock and continuity but we are excited about our slowly improving relationships and the impact it has on the care our community receives.
Hospital services
The hospital serves a population of 130 000 people. There are a few private general practitioners who work in a small town an hour from the hospital, and one permanent doctor at a CHC, but otherwise the hospital’s doctors are the only medical doctors in the area.
Zithulele is a District Hospital offering non-specialist services to patients referred from the surrounding clinics. These include: in-patient care for maternity cases (antenatal, delivery and postpartum), general wards for female and male medical and surgical patients, paediatrics and a TB block for patients who are too sick for out-patient management or those living too far from their clinics. An out-patient department sees patients referred from local clinics and doubles as a casualty where emergencies are seen 24 hours a day. The reasonably modern and well equipped theatre is currently used mainly for Caesarean sections and minor surgery, including skin grafts, incision and drainages, debridements and manipulations of fractures. For more information on the common diseases we see, click here.
Clinical services are supported by a hardworking laboratory which can do basic haematology (FBC, INR, ESR), chemistry (U&E, LFTs, CRP, RPR, βHCG) and microbiology (sputum & urine microscopy, CSF analysis). We have an onsite GeneXpert Ultra machine. Other investigations must be done in Mthatha and results often take time. Our pharmacy has improved dramatically since the first ever pharmacist started work. We enjoy a regular supply of most medicine on the Essential Drug List and good access to surgical consumables (supply-chain issues notwithstanding). Our radiographers run a busy X-ray service, with a digital X-ray machine (maintenance issues notwithstanding!) An ultrasound machine has made a huge difference in managing patients. CSSD, laundry and other support services are on the premises.
The hospital serves a population of 130 000 people. There are a few private general practitioners who work in a small town an hour from the hospital, and one permanent doctor at a CHC, but otherwise the hospital’s doctors are the only medical doctors in the area.
Zithulele is a District Hospital offering non-specialist services to patients referred from the surrounding clinics. These include: in-patient care for maternity cases (antenatal, delivery and postpartum), general wards for female and male medical and surgical patients, paediatrics and a TB block for patients who are too sick for out-patient management or those living too far from their clinics. An out-patient department sees patients referred from local clinics and doubles as a casualty where emergencies are seen 24 hours a day. The reasonably modern and well equipped theatre is currently used mainly for Caesarean sections and minor surgery, including skin grafts, incision and drainages, debridements and manipulations of fractures. For more information on the common diseases we see, click here.
Clinical services are supported by a hardworking laboratory which can do basic haematology (FBC, INR, ESR), chemistry (U&E, LFTs, CRP, RPR, βHCG) and microbiology (sputum & urine microscopy, CSF analysis). We have an onsite GeneXpert Ultra machine. Other investigations must be done in Mthatha and results often take time. Our pharmacy has improved dramatically since the first ever pharmacist started work. We enjoy a regular supply of most medicine on the Essential Drug List and good access to surgical consumables (supply-chain issues notwithstanding). Our radiographers run a busy X-ray service, with a digital X-ray machine (maintenance issues notwithstanding!) An ultrasound machine has made a huge difference in managing patients. CSSD, laundry and other support services are on the premises.
Disclaimer This website is not an official government one. Although we believe it to accurately reflect the activities of the hospital and the individuals profiled have all given their consent, the opinions expressed herein are those of the website authors and not the official hospital standpoint. The site is funded with private money.