May 2023 –  Following it being acknowledged as the first South African private facility to win a World Stroke Organisation (WSO) Angels Award in 2022, Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre have yet again successfully become the first South African hospital to win a platinum award for its work in stroke care. This is another milestone making it the only hospital in KwaZulu-Natal to date, to have received WSO awards and is currently the only South African hospital to have three accolades to its name.

While the result is assessed in line with the WSO’s commitment to improving outcomes for stroke patients, by ensuring that patients worldwide get access to stroke care that optimises their survival and recovery, at the core of this achievement remains the hospital’s commitment to continuous improvement and teamwork.

The accolade presented to one of Lenmed’s centres of excellence adds impetus to the group’s goal to not only align with international clinical best practices but also the provision of exceptional quality care, patient experience, and make a tangible difference to the communities served.

In light of this recent honour, Lenmed CEO, Amil Devchand said: “Having Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and  Heart Centre receive a platinum award is not only a privilege and honour, but a great reminder that we are indeed on the right track. We are proud of the contributions made by our expert specialists, healthcare professionals and all involved. We look forward to continuing on the path we have carved in our 38 years of existence as an organisation.”

Noting the strides made since the inaugural award was received in 2022, Hospital CEO Niresh Bechan reiterates the sentiments shared then, “running the stroke programme remains a passion for us because we see how much value this brings to patients and their loved ones, and the difference we make throughout all the touch points shows just how vital of a role each and every team member is in making the programme a success.”

Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre is an ultra-sophisticated and digitally integrated hospital north of Durban boasting an extensive and leading adult and paediatric cardiac and cardiothoracic service offering. It is the only hospital in KwaZulu-Natal that offers much-needed services for paediatric cardiac surgery. The facility is the first in Africa to be awarded accreditation from the American College of Cardiology based on a rigorous evaluation of the hospital team’s ability to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

WSO is a non-profit medical association that works to raise awareness of the prevention and treatment of stroke. It gives gold, platinum, and diamond status Angels Awards quarterly with the aim to; provide practical support to improve stroke care globally, recognise and promote best practices in stroke care and share key learning around the implementation of quality stroke care.

The Lenmed Group is a world-class group of Private Hospitals that brings quality healthcare to communities across Southern Africa.