Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre celebrates 20 years of healthcare service

The Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre (WCRC), located on the grounds of Lentegeur Psychiatric Hospital in Mitchells Plain, proudly celebrated 20 years of specialist rehabilitation healthcare services with a Gala Dinner on Wednesday, 02 October 2024. This innovative 156-bed facility is the only public health centre of its kind in the province, dedicated to rehabilitating individuals with physical disabilities. The centre’s history stems from the merging of Conradie Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services, including its Spinal Cord Injury Unit, with Karl Bremer Rehabilitation Services.

WCRC's relocation to its current premises in October 2004 marked a milestone for healthcare in the Western Cape. Moving due to the poor infrastructure at Conradie Hospital allowed the WCRC to establish itself as a crucial healthcare resource, serving not only the province but also neighbouring regions. Patients, including those with spinal cord injuries, are referred from the Northern and Eastern Cape provinces, demonstrating WCRC’s wide-reaching impact. This move brought services closer to the communities that needed them most, improving accessibility and affordability while optimising underutilised buildings.

“The WCRC is an embodiment of patient-centred care. Through a collaborative effort, they are able to provide an extraordinary range of rehabilitative services that enable the rehabilitation, dignity, and flourishing of the patients they serve. The work of the Centre demonstrates clearly that the lives of persons with disabilities can be as dignified, full of hope and joy, and as rich with opportunities as the life of an able-bodied person,” says Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger. “As we celebrate the work of the Centre over the past twenty years, we must also stand firm in our collective commitment to addressing the underlying causes of disability, including TB and interpersonal violence.”

"We are proud to celebrate twenty years of service excellence at the WCRC and the Orthotic and Prosthetic Centre (OPC), working together as one connected service. We are also marking a year of pioneering advanced transitional care services at Brackengate," says Fatima Peters, Chief Executive Officer of the WCRC. "This celebration honours the legacy of WCRC and the strong foundation we have built over two decades. Looking forward, we remain optimistic, striving to strengthen our connections between the three entities of our organisation to better serve our communities."

WCRC was established as a centre of excellence, providing comprehensive rehabilitation for people with complex spinal and neurological disorders, offering training, family support, and educational programmes to safely reintegrate individuals back into society. The goal remains to help people return to work, school, and their communities.

The hospital accommodates up to 156 patients at a time, with around 133 admissions each month and an average stay of 14 weeks. The facility maintains an 85% occupancy rate and supports around 700-800 outpatients monthly. With a dedicated staff of 319, patients receive care tailored to their needs.

WCRC offers patients special features like a Health and Well-being Centre, equipped with an indoor hydrotherapy area and gymnasium, along with outdoor community facilities including a basketball court, mobility and wheelchair courses, a Feng Shui meditation garden, and a wheelchair repair workshop.

The Orthotic and Prosthetic Centre (OPC) in Pinelands is the only government facility in the province serving patients from all over, except for the Southern Cape and Karoo regions who have a Western Cape Government contracted private provider offering the service ensuring that patient access to care is more convenient. The OPC team provides essential orthotic, prosthetic, and surgical footwear services to people of all ages and backgrounds, addressing conditions caused by disease, injury, congenital anomalies, and more.

Brackengate Transitional Care Centre, another vital part of WCRC’s service package, transitioned from a COVID-19 field hospital to a dedicated transitional care facility in June 2023. Now a 146-bed centre, Brackengate supports patients recovering from acute illnesses and long-term conditions, easing the strain on regional hospitals while ensuring equitable, quality care.

WCRC Highlights:

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised WCRC as a training resource for wheelchair service delivery, a testament to its high standards.
• The expansion of transitional care services focuses on maximising recovery from acute illness or long-term conditions, helping alleviate pressure on acute hospitals in the area.
• Peer support programmes allow former patients to share their experiences and support newly admitted patients in their rehabilitation journey.

The WCRC Hospital Board plays a vital role in ensuring governance, accountability, and the continuous delivery of quality care. Aligned with the department’s Healthcare 2030 vision of person-centred care, the Board supports staff in improving healthcare services for people with disabilities.

"In a global context, improving and prioritising rehabilitation services is a recognised need, as highlighted by the 2022 WHO report on disability and health inequity. The Western Cape, and South Africa more broadly, must continue to prioritise this work to ensure that people with disabilities have access to good health and well-being," says Professor Lieketseng Ned, WCRC Hospital Board Chairperson. "This is an important step towards realising the goals set out in the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."

For more information about the Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre and how to support its services, visit https://wcrcfb.co.za or contact the WCRC Hospital Board by emailing info@wcrcfb.co.za.