Sister Bronwyn Piedade, the new facility manager for the Bishop Lavis Community Day Centre, has been praised for her commitment to ensuring that every resident of Bishop Lavis receives care that is centred around their individual needs.
Sister Piedade’s journey in the healthcare sector began in 1981 at Groote Schuur Hospital, where she started as an enrolled nursing assistant. Her extensive experience includes working at various healthcare centres, such as the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, where she served as a professional nurse.
She has also worked at facilities in Elsies River, Ravensmead, Belhar and Gatesville. Additionally, she held the role of operational nursing manager at the Cape Town Reproductive Health Centre and served as the facility manager at District Six CDC.
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In her new role as facility manager, Sister Piedade has taken on a patient-centred approach that involves treating patients with respect and dignity while involving them in decisions regarding their health.
Her goal for Bishop Lavis CDC is to empower patients to take charge of their health and to foster a supportive relationship between the staff and patients.
She explains, ‘Patient-centred means treating patients with dignity and respect and involving them in decisions about their health. This is what I hope to achieve for patients visiting Bishop Lavis CDC. Patients need to be empowered to take responsibility for their health, and together, staff and patients can ensure that we support each other for a favourable outcome.’
Sister Piedade’s dedication to person-centred care is rooted in her passion for nursing and community healthcare. Having grown up in Manenberg, she understands the needs and challenges faced by the community firsthand.
This personal connection drives her to go above and beyond her duty. She believes in delivering better service by going the extra mile for clients, hand in hand with her staff.
‘Nursing for me was never a job; it has always been a calling. I come from an impoverished community in Manenberg. I know what our community needs and what people go through. Because of this, I’ve always performed my duty from the heart. It’s about going that extra mile for the client with your staff to ensure better service delivery for all. If we remain committed to our clients’ care, we can build healthier communities.’
The appointment of Sister Piedade has been warmly received by the Bishop Lavis Health Committee. Michael Hoffmeester, the chairperson of the health committee, praises her as an attentive listener who prioritises the needs of the community. He commends her community-oriented approach and open-door policy, seeing them as valuable assets for the community’s well-being.
‘We had a long wait for our new manager. But over the past few weeks, I have found that she is a very good listener, and she is very community-oriented. This is very good. She is a people’s person. We welcome her appointment. She is very disciplined and very organised. I can see that she has an open-door policy, and this is what our community needs.’
Since assuming her role as facility manager, Sister Piedade has engaged with members of the health committee. She intends to collaborate closely with them to address residents’ concerns and is eager to receive suggestions from the community for service improvements.
She has made efforts to make herself accessible by engaging with clients in the facility and encouraging them to use the compliments and complaints box. Sister Piedade aims to dispel any misconceptions about the effectiveness of this feedback system and wants the community to know that their voices are heard.
One of the ongoing projects Sister Piedade is overseeing is the Bishop Lavis Wellness Hubs. These hubs are initiatives led by Western Cape Government Health and Wellness, partnering with local non-profit organizations. They offer a means for stable chronic patients to receive medication without enduring long lines at the local clinic or incurring travel expenses. Patients referred by the local clinic can collect their chronic medication and access wellness screenings at these hubs.
Sister Piedade intends to actively promote the utilisation of these wellness hubs and encourages the community to approach her with any concerns.
Looking ahead, Sister Piedade is committed to strengthening the existing partnerships with the clinic in Bishop Lavis. She envisions creating a safe and empowering environment for all clients who visit the facility. Recognising the importance of collaboration, she welcomes engagement with the local community to work together towards the betterment of healthcare services.
‘At Bishop Lavis CDC, we have established wellness hubs. We encourage our clients to collect their medication on their appointment dates. We will work on improving this process and ask that clients honour their appointment dates.’
Sister Piedade adds, ‘I look forward to strengthening existing partnerships with the clinic in Bishop Lavis and creating a safe and empowering space for all clients who walk through our doors. We cannot do this alone and welcome collaboration with the local community.’
Clients of the Bishop Lavis Community Day Centre (clinic) who wish to share complaints or suggestions for service enhancement are encouraged to reach out to Sister Piedade. They can visit the facility in person, use the suggestions box within the clinic or contact her via email at [email protected].
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Picture: National Cancer Institute / Unsplash