Avenues Clinic completes major maternity and critical care upgrades

The Avenues Clinic has completed a major refurbishment of its maternity ward and critical care units as part of a hospital-wide upgrade aimed at aligning its facilities with global clinical standards.

During a tour of the revamped facilities on Friday, General Manager Sibusisiwe Ndhlovu said the improvements are part of a broader strategy to modernise the hospital while preserving its brand identity and patient-centred approach.

"We have done our medical ward, which is on the first floor. On the second floor, we have refurbished our private ward as well as our operating theatres and guiding room," she said.

"Now we are on the third floor, which is our maternity ward, and just across is our ICU and high-dependency unit."

Mrs Ndhlovu explained that the refurbishment ensures the hospital’s infrastructure matches the high standard of care delivered by its clinical and nursing teams.

"We are happy with our clinicians and our clinical and nursing staff in terms of the care they are giving to our patients. What was left for us was to match that standard of clinical care with the infrastructure," she said.

The upgrades were also informed by patient feedback, particularly from maternity patients who preferred private rooms after delivery.

"After we opened Tucson Private downstairs, most mothers, after giving birth, wanted to go to private wards," she said.

"However, that private ward was already catering for surgical, medical and other patients, and we were not able to meet the demand."

The newly refurbished maternity ward has been divided into two sections to accommodate different preferences and budgets. The right wing features seven private beds for mothers seeking privacy, while the left wing offers eight twin-sharing beds.

"We want to believe that it caters for all tastes and for all pockets," said Mrs Ndhlovu.

Behind the maternity section is the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), described as a "miracle-making machine" due to its clinical outcomes.

"We are proud of this unit because of the outcomes we get here. Even babies as young as 26 weeks who are born prematurely have come into this ward and gone home after being taken care of," she said.

The NICU has been expanded by four additional beds to meet rising demand and serves both inpatients and referrals from across the country.

Chief Financial Officer Peddy Chigunduru revealed that nearly US$4 million has been invested in infrastructure renewal and advanced medical equipment, with US$2.5 million directed towards specialised clinical technology, including neonatal equipment.

"In terms of deployment of capital, we are purposefully directing investment to the most impactful areas of the hospital. The infrastructure must align with the level of service we intend to provide," he said.

Hospital executives confirmed that the refurbishment programme will continue as The Avenues Clinic strengthens its position as a regional referral centre capable of delivering advanced maternal, neonatal and critical care services locally, reducing the need for external referrals.