The Rob Ferreira Hospital in Nelspruit has been undergoing renovations and construction, including a new maternity ward and upgrades to the laboratory, theatre and the ICU block.

Progress and implementation

The renovations and construction currently underway at Rob Ferreira Hospital – one of Mpumalanga’s biggest hospitals – forms part of the Department of Public Works’ hospital revitalisation grant, which is funding 20 different projects.

In 2012, the hospital received funding for:

Phase 4A

• a new maternity ward and ring road
• renovations to existing units and construction of a cafeteria
• renovations to the crèche, laboratory, theatre and the ICU block
• renovations to specialist out-patient departments (OPD) and the rehabilitation unit
• renovation to the X-ray department, office block and wards 2, 3, 4 and 8.

Phase 4B

• construction of a basement
• construction of new short stay, day and private wards
• admin block and helipad.

Phase 4C

• construction of OPD, casualty and pharmacy
• upgrading of OPD and dental unit
• electrical and mechanical upgrades
• roads, stormwater, sewer and gutter upgrades.

Current progress

The hospital is currently undergoing Phase 4E (part 2) of the renovation and construction programme, which includes the construction of a new learning centre. Included in the scope of general building works is a training centre for students, canteen, locker rooms, library, offices and basement. The project is valued at R73 million and is scheduled for completion in June 2013.

Following the explosion of a newly installed transformer at the hospital on 23 March 2011, extra caution will have to be taken on all future developments. The explosion caused a fire in the main transformer room and burnt the cables of the back-up generators, causing the whole hospital to be without electricity – jeopardising the lives of critical patients.

Project team
Client	Independent Development Trust (Mpumalanga)
Electrical and mechanical engineer	PLP Consulting Engineers
Contractor	Tony Lagerwey/Mpfumelelo Business Enterprise joint venture
Architect	Orbic Architects
Quantity surveyor	HP2 Consultants