Pretoria: The Gauteng Health Department has announced that it has processed a payment of R1.5 million, which will ensure the availability of electricity at the new Natalspruit Hospital.

The department said that the amount – which should have been paid last week, but was delayed due to technical difficulties in the payment system – will reflect in the supplier’s account by the end of this week.

“The department is also in the process of releasing the rest of the amount [owed] to Eskom to ensure the continuous availability of electricity. We would like to assure the community that this hiccup will not delay the completion of the hospital and official opening,” said the department’s spokesperson, Simon Zwane.

To prepare for the official opening of the new 771-bed hospital, which will also have a gateway clinic and a crèche, Zwane said that the department is in the final stages of procuring and installing new equipment. The estimated cost for equipment is R155 million.

Services to be offered at the new hospital include an accident, emergency and trauma unit; adult ICU and high care; paediatric ICU and high care; psychiatric ward, TB ward; gynaecological and maternity services as well as a burns unit.