The Emergency Centre (EC) is the heart of Khayelitsha District Hospital (KDH) and admits an average of 2550 patients per month! Approximately half are discharged directly from the EC and the remainder require admission, but often remain in the EC as there are no available beds in the overburdened hospital wards. This means that the EC operates at an average capacity of 156%, reaching 325% at times! It is no surprise then, that our first major project was to support this busy unit; we set out to transform the storeroom into a counselling room - hoping to create a quiet, private and comforting space for staff to speak with families of patients with a poor prognosis or who have passed away.

 

Dr Brett Curry, one of the EC doctors, literally ran with the idea and raised the funds needed for this grand plan by running his first-ever marathon! Dr Curry completed his Community Service year and his General Medicine rotations as a registrar at KDH; his wife Terri Anne, at that time Head Occupational Therapist at KDH,  has also played an important role in improving the health and well-being of KDH patients. With commitment and passion, Dr Curry set up a Back-a-Buddy page to generate financial support (and encouragement!), started training and successfully completed the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon in October 2023. 

 

The planning and work began immediately and by December 2023, the beautifully-renovated room was officially opened. Little did we know what the full impact would be! On average, the room is utilised at least five times per day by doctors breaking bad news or psychologists needing privacy to speak with patients. And in addition, the room is regularly used as a place of peace and quiet for overburdened healthcare professionals, who just need to sit for a moment and take a deep breath…before they walk out and face the overwhelming needs in front of them. 

 

What a blessing this space has been. On the suggestion of Sister Ngemntu, the new room is called Lilitha, meaning ‘ray of light’. We are overjoyed that this impactful project is bringing light and hope – a wonderful representation of our lighthouse symbol and our mission to improve patient care at KDH.