Premier’s 17th Energy Digicon looks at how Western Cape Department of Health is protecting health services amid mass blackouts
Dr Keith Cloete, Head of the Western Cape Department of Health, returned to the Premier’s digicon platform – first introduced over the Covid-19 pandemic – although this time it was to address another crisis: relentless power blackouts.
Just like the Covid-19 digicons were meant to keep the public informed of the various aspects of the pandemic, including the interventions the Western Cape Government (WCG) put in place to battle the virus, so too are the Energy Digicons intended to highlight the solutions the provincial government is implementing to end blackouts and what role and responsibility each of us have during this time.
The Premier pointed out, “As we implement and seek out solutions to this crisis, this will unfortunately take time. Fixing the energy problem is not just about flicking a switch. It is a long-term investment. I know residents want this to be fixed quickly, but this will not happen over a period of months. This takes time and unfortunately it will be tough.”
Dr Cloete explained that power outages impair the capacity to adequately provide an array of health services, affecting medical equipment, computers, digital records, cold storage as well as telecommunications, among others.
The more profound effects chronic blackouts are having on the province’s health system is on staff morale. “Health workers already work under trying conditions. Blackouts are adding another layer of pressure and stress on staff,” commented Premier Winde. Dr Cloete added, “The wellbeing of our staff has been our biggest concern. Coming out of Covid-19 into dealing with a resurgence of healthcare needs with fewer resources, on top of that loadshedding, it is taking its toll on our staff.”
Loadshedding exemption
Ten Hospitals in the Western Cape are currently exempted from loadshedding, up to stage 6:
George Hospital
Groote Schuur Hospital
Karl Bremer Hospital
Mitchells Plain Hospital
Mowbray Maternity Hospital
New Somerset Hospital
Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital
Tygerberg Hospital
Victoria Hospital
Wesfleur Hospital
The Department is in discussions with Eskom to install a dedicated feeder for the Khayelitsha District Hospital at a cost of R1.5 million to have that facility too exempted from power cuts.
Generators
Nearly 200 Healthcare facilities that have not been exempted, have generatorsbut this has come at a huge cost. “Diesel availability and cost have been the biggest concern for us. From 1 April to 30 June 2023 we spent R12 million just on diesel. In the month of June alone we spent more than R5 million on diesel, which was not budgeted for,” the Head of Department said. He continued, “While the money being spent on mitigating the impacts of loadshedding could have been used elsewhere, we cannot allow patients to suffer the consequences when seeking healthcare services. This once again is an indication of how the Western Cape is going above and beyond its mandate.”
Solar PV
Dr Cloete added, “The Department is planning for the installation of solar photovoltaic embedded generators at 15 hospitals for a combined total peak generation of 5MW.”
Uninterrupted power supply (USP) systems and Inverters
Uninterrupted power supply (UPS) systems have been installed to keep the following services operational during blackouts:
Life support medical equipment
Operating theatres
EMS call centers
Additionally, the department is also planning to supply 138 clinics with inverters and lithium batteries to provide a seamless essential power supply during loadshedding.
Monitoring power use and energy reduction
The Department is also watching its own energy consumption, with smart metres installed at 68 facilities across the province.
To manage the Department’s entire loadshedding mitigation plan it has developed an electrical supply preparedness plan that outlines all activities to cushion the impact of increasing stages of loadshedding, beyond stage 6.
Furthermore, hospitals and health care facilities are working smarter to reduce their consumption of energy during peak times while still maintaining the best possible health care standards across all facilities.
To watch a recording of this week’s digicon, please visit: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq1nUsPxvVc&pp=ygUfUHJlbWllcuKAmXMgMTd0aCBFbmVyZ3kgRGlnaWNvbg%3D%3D(link is external)
Media enquiries:
Regan Thaw
Media Liaison Officer
Office of the Premier
Cell: 083 627 7246
Email: Regan.Thaw@westerncape.gov.za
Source: Government of South Africa