In another investment injection into the economy of the Nelson Mandela Bay, the new R100 million Edge Day Hospital, officially opened doors in Gqeberha on Monday.
The official opening was attended by both the Eastern Cape provincial MEC for Health, Nomakhosazana Meth, and Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor, Nqaba Bhanga.
This state-of-the-art medical facility is an initiative driven by Dr Cameron McIntosh, a Nelson Mandela Bay-based otolaryngology and facial plastic surgeon, who specialises in rhinoplasty, or nose surgery.
Built on the edge of the city’s Baakens Valley, the Edge Day Hospital combines cutting edge and affordable care with spectacular views over Settlers Park.
It has 15 beds and two operating theatres, which consist of a laminar flow theatre and a digital theatre. These have been laid out in a design that aims to minimise infection and increase patient safety.
Rooms at the Edge are custom designed for facial plastic surgery, rhinoplasty and otolaryngology and more. In addition to same-day procedures, the hospital is also fully equipped for patients who need short stays.
The founding president of the Society of Rhinoplasty Surgeons of South Africa (SORSSA), Dr McIntosh prioritises education and research in the field of rhinoplasty. Hence the facility also includes specialised audiovisual equipment that will be used to train medical professionals in this area.
“There have been many times over the past seven years that I have wanted to give up,” said Dr McIntosh, but now the dream has become a reality to shine as a beacon of hope for the city.
The KwaZulu-Natal born doctor studied medicine at Stellenbosch University where he met his wife Colleen, also a medical doctor. He later specialised in ear, nose and throat at the University of the Free State and directed his research towards nasal surgery.
The father of three young children – who gave warm family support at the opening – said his wife had been his rock over the “crazy few years and months” that it took to build a hospital over a global pandemic.
Directors and shareholders
Dr McIntosh is the only doctor to have his rooms at the Edge. However, an extensive range of Gqeberha medical specialists who are directors and shareholders will use the hospital facilities for their own patients as and when needed.
The Edge directors are Dr McIntosh, orthopedic surgeon Dr Marzanne Swart, gynaecologists Dr Deshni Chetty, Dr Natasha Andrews and Dr Clayton Grieve, and anaesthetist Dr Ernest Buitendag.
Dentists Dr Divan Castelyn and Dr Suvir Chetty, specialist surgeons Dr Jacques September and Dr Nico van Niekerk, and plastic surgeon Dr Christiaan Joubert are shareholders.
Province and metro thumbs up
MEC Meth praised the venture as an example of private-public partnerships.
“This is the year to strengthen collaborations and partnerships in the era of Covid-19 to protect, promote and improve in honour of Mama Charlotte Maxeke,” said Meth in her address.
She outlined how partnerships between the state and private medical institutions such as the Edge Day Hospital were vital, particularly as budget constraints would “likely continue over the next three years”.
Medico-legal claims were another factor hampering the government from delivering on its mandate.
“I invite private-public partnership and engagements so that we can learn and exchange ideas on how the public partners – such as Edge – manages, or intends to mitigate, such risks. Forward planning and efficiency have been demonstrated by the team that put up this beautiful facility, it is impressive and highly commendable.
“We are your partner, you are our partner, and we shall work together to improve the lives of the people of the Eastern Cape.”
Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Nqaba Banga was equally generous in his praise, saying it was a “wonderful day for the city, Cameron has shown us leadership”.
Boost for Nelson Mandela Bay
The hospital is already providing employment in a region suffering from a high level of unemployment. Imbono Architects designed the Edge, which was built by Renaissance Construction.
“We had 938 applicants for 26 positions and we’ve created 26 brand new jobs in the city,” said Dr McIntosh, noting that these were over and above those involved in the construction phase.
Of the staff opening function held in July, he said “it was quite an emotional day for me because we had people speaking about the fact that they’ve never had a job in their life.”
Sharing a message of hope
“I hope that this inspires the people of Nelson Mandela Bay to carry out the vision that God has given me,” said Dr McIntosh, outlining how nearly all the professionals involved in the project were sourced from Port Elizabeth.
“Sometimes in our city we don’t back ourselves enough but I really want this to be a beacon of hope in this dark Covid world we are in.
“We hope that this is the start of a long and very fruitful relationship as we expand this group into more facilities.”
The Edge management also will arrange surgical safaris to Eastern Cape luxury game reserves such as Shamwari, Oceana and Kariega. As Dr McIntosh noted at the opening, the cost of a medical safari for a patient from, for example, the US, would be less than the cost of the procedure alone in their home country.
An in-house medical spa is a further bonus, offering facials, peels, fillers, botox and more on its treatment menu.
In addition to the permanent jobs created at the hospital, there also are opportunities for artists and crafters. All the artwork in the hospital is for sale.
There is also a treat in store for younger patients, as each child who has a procedure will receive his or her own soft toy, Edgy the hedgehog, made by marginalised or previously disadvantaged women crafters in Gqeberha.