Netcare Hospital Group encompasses Netcare's hospitals and specialised medical units, collectively representing the most modern and sophisticated medical facilities in South Africa. Every healthcare service is covered, from major organ transplants to the latest diagnostic procedures.
Situated prominently on Durban's Berea with spectacular views of the cityscape, St Augustine's Hospital is KwaZulu-Natal's largest private hospital and the second largest hospital in the Netcare group. Today the 418-bed hospital enjoys an enviable reputation for its world-class facilities, boasting state-of-the-art medical equipment and technology, and offering a full range of medical disciplines.
Standby power
The risk of a mains power failure represents a major hazard for any hospital, particularly those offering critical health services such as operating theatres and high-care units, as in the case of St Augustine's.
Previously, the hospital had been reliant on small generators to deliver standby power for essential services only, but technical manager Mike Wilson was keen to seek out an alternative solution capable of providing emergency power protection for the entire establishment.
He said: "We now have 100% confidence that in the event of a mains power failure we can maintain normal functionality thanks to our two new generators driven by Cummins Power Generation diesel engines. As soon as a power blackout occurs, both standby sets kick in automatically, with the two generators being synchronised to produce full load power within about 15 seconds.
"For added peace of mind, even the backup system has a backup plan. In the unlikely event of one of the generators shutting down or failing to start, the remaining set will continue to deliver uninterrupted power on preselected essential loads (such as operating theatres or high-care units) until the fault is cleared. Once the failed generator automatically restarts, the two sets resynchronise and return to offering full power protection for the entire premises.
"The complete operation is controlled by a Cummins Power Generation MC150 master controller that can be programmed to provide pre-determined load share/load shed and sequential load demand capabilities."
Cummins South Africa successfully fought off competition from Barlowworld (CAT) and PNS Power to win the St Augustine's business. The final decision was based upon Cummins South Africa's ability to offer the best local value, excellent national network support and ease of access to the superior service and technical solutions provided using Cummins Power Generation equipment.
Rae Filmer, regional sales manager for Cummins South Africa's power generation division, said: "The Cummins Power Generation generators are an ideal choice for important institutions, such as hospitals, where a total power failure is simply not an option. In these circumstances the sourcing of a reliable back-up solution in the event of a conventional mains power failure is a fundamental requirement."
Mr Wilson said: "It's really fantastic and has put us all at ease. We are secure in the knowledge that we have placed the operational health of our hospital in the safe hands of Cummins South Africa."
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