Cape Town - The Western Cape Rehabilitation Centre (WCRC) celebrated its 20th birthday in grand style this past week.
The innovative 156-bed facility located in Mitchells Plain is the only public health centre of its kind in the province, dedicated to rehabilitating individuals with physical disability.
It provides comprehensive rehabilitation for people with complex spinal and neurological disorders, offering training, family support, and educational programmes to safely reintegrate individuals back into society.
Health spokesperson Monique Johnstone explains that the hospital accommodates up to 156 patients at a time, with around 133 admissions each month and an average stay of 14 weeks.
She says 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.
It also 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 facility’s history is deeply rooted and stems from the merging of Conradie Hospital’s Rehabilitation Services, including its Spinal Cord Injury Unit, with Karl Bremer Rehabilitation Services, relocating to its current premises in October 2004 due to the poor infrastructure at Conradie Hospital.
The facility not only meets the needs of the immediate community, Cape Town and the Western Cape, but also caters for patients from neighbouring provinces who are often referred from the Northern and Eastern Cape.
Health and Wellness MEC Mireille Wenger applauded the collaborative effort at the facility.
“Through this 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.
“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.”
CEO of WCRC, Fatima Peters, said they are celebrating and honouring the legacy of the facility.
“Looking forward, we remain optimistic, striving to strengthen our connections between the three entities of our organisation to better serve our communities."
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recognised WCRC as a training resource for wheelchair service delivery, a testament to its high standards.
WCRC Hospital Board Chairperson Professor Lieketseng Ned said: "In a global context, improving and prioritising rehabilitation services is a recognised need.
“This is an important step towards realising the goals set out in the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities."