Services offered at Christ the King hospital
In-Patients The hospital was recently renovated and now has 197 usable beds.
The six wards are Paediatrics, Maternity and Gynaecology, Female Surgical (F18),
Female Medical (F8) and Male (divided into medical and surgical sections).
There is no high care or ICU. We provide basic care in the following disciplines:
Obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatrics, internal medicine, minor surgery, orthopaedics
and family medicine. Each medical officer is responsible for one ward.
Ward rounds are done on a daily basis during the week. The main pathology is HIV-related illnesses.
Out-Patients DepartmentThis is the busiest department in the hospital.
All patients are seen in a general OPD. There are no specialised clinics.
We receive referrals from 10 local clinics and GP's as well as emergencies.
A wide spectrum of pathologies is seen, including a moderate amount of trauma.
Our emergency room is well equipped with defibrillator and emergency trolley.
Minor procedures can also be performed here.
The majority of our patients are indigent. Medical aid patients are charged medical aid rates.
We provide a lot of district surgeon services including assessments for disability grants (DGs)
There are no specialists in the hospital. Patients requiring specialist services are referred to Harry Gwala Regional Hospital,
Grey's Hospital and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital..
In-hospital facilities:
Laboratory
Open 07h30 to 16h00 Monday to Friday. There is a limited after-hours service.
The doctor on call is responsible for calling out laboratory staff for urgent investigations.
There is a lab technician on-call everyday.
Services provided:
FBC, ESR, INR, Rhesus test- use haematology form
U&E, Glucose, LFT, Urate, Amylase, proteins – use biochemistry form
Blood (only O+ and O –available) - use orange transfusion card
MC&S of CSF- (+India ink+chemistry), Pus swabs, body fluids - use microbiology form
Urine for MC&S or pregnancy test, stool- use yellow micro. form
AFB on sputum, swabs etc.- use TB request form
Rapid HIV is available for needle stick injuries and dialysis candidates
Contact laboratory staff (Ext 7521) for any further information.
Radiography
Plain x-rays and barium swallows are done. Bedside x-rays can be obtained.
Unless specified only AP views for CXRs will be done.
A radiographer is on call for emergency x-rays after hours.
X-rays are read by the medical officers and findings reported on the patients’ charts.
Patients who wish to keep the x-rays pay R120 for the film including the radiologist’s report.
Ultrasound
We have two diagnostic ultrasound machines (Toshiba – maternity and OPD.
Pharmacy Department
We provide pharmaceutical services to 10 PHC facilities, 1 mobile base and 1 health post. The pharmacy opens from Monday to Friday at 07h30 to 16h00 each day.
The pharmacy is closed on weekends and public holidays. There is an emergency medicine cupboard that has medicines for patients in an emergency and after operating hours.
There is a pharmacist on call to provide emergency medicine supply.
There are four departments within the pharmacy, namely:
Out-Patient
In-Patient
Pre-Packing
Stores
We offer services to in-patients that are admitted in our wards and out-patients and service patients at the Primary Health Care Clinics, Mobiles and Health Post.
The pharmacy stores department procures and distributes medicines for all health facilities and programmes within the sub-district of Ubuhlebezwe Municipality.
We offer medicines that are at a district hospital level.
Nutritional Services
We stock all drugs in the Essential Drug List (EDL) as well as various other medications.
Any drug not in the pharmacy can be motivated for.
We also have the services of a full-time dietician.
Rehabilitation Department
We have a newly established therapy department staffed by one physiotherapist and three occupational therapists.
We also have one audiologist with one comm serve.
Weekly visits are done by the rehab team to the clinics.
Dental Clinic
The dental clinic is at Ixopo Health Centre, 4km from the hospital.
We have a full-time dentist who is based at Ixopo Health Centre, 4kms from the hospital.
The dentist has one comm serve dentist working with her.
Psychiatric ward
A psychiatrist from the Midlands complex visits the psychiatric clinic at
Ixopo Health Centre on the first Monday of every month.
Theatre Procedures
Elective theatre cases are done in theatre during the week by the medical officers. . We have 2 operating theatres with new
We have 2 operating theatres with new Boyle's machine (Drager Fabius), capnograph and bear-hugger.
Minor surgical procedures performed include I&Ds, debridements, circumcisions, evacuation of uterus, reduction of closed fractures, etc. C/S and T/Ls done.
Information for Community Service Officers
There is a variable number of posts for Community Service Doctors.
Accommodation is provided in single flats at the hospital.
Rehabilitation ServicesA community service speech
therapist and audiologist visits the hospital once a week. Support and
mentorship is sometimes provided by volunteers flown by the Red Cross.
Dental clinic The dental clinic is at Ixopo Health Centre, 4km from the hospital.
We have a full-time dentist who is based at Ixopo Health Centre, 4kms from the hospital.
The dentist has one comm serve dentist working with her.
Psychology and Councelling Services
Psychologists from Pietermaritzburg visit once a month to provide counselling to clients at the clinic.
Another psychologist visits once a month to see adult patients at the hospital.
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