July 2023 – Lenmed Ethekwini Hospital and Heart Centre was recently awarded an Angels Award Diamond Status by the World Stroke Organisation (WSO). This is the highest award in the tiers that are set to recognise hospitals that have, according to WSO, “demonstrated clear commitment to quality stroke care and have established cultures and systems to support continuous improvement.”

Following the pioneering step noted after becoming the first private facility in South Africa to be recognised with a gold award by WSO in 2022, and the first South African hospital to win a platinum award for its work in stroke care, Lenmed Ethekweni Hospital and Heart Centre continues to lead the way, as it once again becomes the first private hospital in KwaZulu-Natal to reach diamond status.

To be eligible for the WSO Angels Award hospitals must adhere to established international best- practice criteria, proven to provide the best possible outcomes for patients.

With the Lenmed Group’s eyes set on positively impacting the health and prosperity of the communities we serve and thought leadership in the South African healthcare landscape and beyond, CEO, Amil Devchand says;

“We are extremely proud of this milestone which is now added to the rich heritage of Lenmed, established almost four decades ago. It is not just an award but a reminder of our commitment to providing market-leading clinical outcomes and world-class service to the communities we serve.”

As one of Lenmed’s centres of excellence, the only hospital in KwaZulu-Natal that offers paediatric cardiac surgery, and the first in Africa to be accredited by the American College of Cardiology Lenmed Ethekweni Hospital and Heart Centre and its clinician community are proud of this additional acknowledgement.

The partnership with the Angels Initiative formalised in 2018, marked the start of a structured programme to improve stroke care by means of training and protocol revision. Hospital CEO, Niresh Bechan shares;

“Since the start of our journey, we have received ample support that has encouraged us to establish a strong team and resources that are key in the treatment of stroke patients. We are indeed inspired to continue doing our best in this discipline, as we have in other areas.”

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 Chest Pain Centre Accreditation with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), based on a rigorous evaluation of the hospital team’s ability to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients who may be experiencing a heart attack.

The World Stroke Organisation is the only global body solely focused on stroke. With around 3,000 individual and 90 society members spanning every global region, the entity represents over 55,000 stroke specialists in clinical, research and community settings.

Lenmed owns and manages eighteen hospitals in four countries on the African continent.

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