Objectives

The primary objective of this tender is to secure a two-month portering service contract at Ngwelezana Hospital. The service aims to facilitate the transportation of patients, deceased persons, medical records, specimens, and equipment within the hospital premises, ensuring efficient hospital operations and patient care.

Scope

The scope includes providing portering services across all hospital areas, including:

• Transporting patients in wheelchairs, stretchers, and beds as scheduled or requested;
• Moving deceased patients and their belongings to the mortuary;
• Delivering and collecting medical records, specimens, blood, and gases;
• Mortuary duties such as loading and transporting bodies;
• Handling routine requests for movement of equipment, notices, and other ad hoc services;
• Providing additional general services related to portering as required by hospital staff.

The contract covers a period of two months, with specified staffing and operational requirements, including shift arrangements and response times for emergency and routine tasks.

Technical Requirements

The technical requirements specify:

• Provision of adequately trained portering staff with appropriate attire and hygiene standards;
• Provision and maintenance of necessary equipment and materials for portering activities;
• Compliance with hospital policies, infection control, and occupational health and safety standards;
• Adherence to specified response times for emergency, urgent, and routine movements, including:
• Emergency responses within 5 minutes for critical incidents;
• Urgent responses within 15 minutes for clinical emergencies;
• Routine movements within 30 minutes or as scheduled for prebooked and routine scheduled tasks;
• Proper liaison with hospital departments and infection control officers;
• Responsible storage and handling of materials and equipment used in portering services.

Skills Requirements

The tender stipulates that portering staff must:

• Be trained in patient handling, infection control, and transportation procedures;
• Maintain high standards of personal hygiene and appearance;
• Be capable of operating equipment safely and efficiently;
• Be trained in the hospital’s operational policies, including specimen handling and safety protocols;
• Possess good communication skills to liaise effectively with hospital staff and patients;
• Be able to respond promptly to emergency and routine requests as per specified response times.