On Thursday, 13 February 2020 at approximately 13:10, a "Batho Pele" and "Service Delivery" representative from the National Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA) called Mr Phumlani Khuzwayo and shared to him the ‘good news’ of being shortlisted to the National Batho Pele Service Excellence Awards 2018/2019. Subsequent to the call, a formal visit by the Adjudication Team, representatives from DPSA and Office of the Premier (OTP) was confirmed for Tuesday 18 February 2020. The interview and project site visit was conducted at the Vryheid District Hospital, where the project was initially launched and implemented.
Phumlani Lindelani Khuzwayo, who serves the department as Chief Architect at the North Coast Region, registered an infrastructure project on the “Reconfiguration of the Neonatal Ward at Vryheid Hospital.” Consequently, the project got shortlisted to compete under the category of “Best Implemented Project/ Programme of the Year 2018/2019.”
The hospital project emerged after a need was registered for the expansion of the Special Care Baby Unit and creation of additional Ward space in the Post Natal Ward of the Vryheid Hospital due to an increasing number of baby deliveries. It was deemed health prudent and mandatory to accommodate the increasing delivery of babies admitted and the implementation of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) by conversion of unused space into an appropriate Ward.
The adjudication team arrived at the Vryheid Hospital on Tuesday 18 February 2020 and got the ball rolling with an intense but grilling interview session with Phumlani and Mrs. Fikile Ngema, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Vryheid Hospital which commenced at 15:00. They were assigned by DPSA and comprised of Mr. Oomang Parag - Chairperson, Ms. Nomusa Ntsuki-Mahlangu, Mr. Steve Madue, Ms Pumla Dlamini and Mr Jan Motsoene. The Public Works’ team who joined to witness the interview and project site visit respectively are Messrs. Thulani Gwala – Vryheid Sub-District Manager and Tarzan Ntsele - Head for Employee Health & Wellness (EHW): North Coast Region, Ms. Thuthu Nkomo – Human Resource Practitioner Change Management & Service Deliver at Head Office. The Vryheid Hospital was represented by Mrs. Nesi Khumalo – Deputy Manager: Nursing, Ms. Ntombikayise Gule – Operational Manager: Post Natal & Special Care Baby Unit, Mr Mjabuliseni Tshabalala – Chief Artisan, and Ms. Nqobile Mbatha – Hospital Public Relations Officer (PRO).
After the interviews were completed, a ‘walk-about’ site inspection was undertaken. It was of essence for the team to observe the operational circumstances and the architectural state of the Neonatal Ward so as to have an informed evaluation, analysis and decision. It is in the interest of ‘good governance’ that site inspections be used in health care and construction projects to promote improvements in the quality of care, promoting changes in structures or processes. This will benefit healthcare provider, also contractor behaviour and thereby enhance patient or clientele outcomes. These review systems are based on the assumption that externally promoted adherence to evidence-based standards through inspection and assessment will result in higher quality of health care and infrastructure delivery.
