THE controversial Tintswalo Hospital in Acornhoek is fast regaining its status after recent improvements to buildings.

The renovations included the replacement of a temporary dental unit with a permanent one.

The hospital is among the 18 districts that the national Department of Health has identified and categorised as priority district hospitals in the country.

"This is one of the hospitals that have been earmarked for the revitalisation programme aimed at improving things such as service delivery and treatment of patients in the institutions," Mpumalanga department of health spokesperson Mpho Gabashane said yesterday.

Sowetan has established that the accreditation of medical interns in Tintswalo Hospital has just been approved by the Medical Council of South Africa.

The hospital is the first in the province to do clinical associate programmes that started last year together with the extended public works programmes that are currently being conducted there.

Emmanuel Zwane, a medical practitioner who runs his own private practice at Bridgeway, Acornhoek, said he was impressed by the way things were turning out at the hospital.

He worked at the hospital for many years before going into private practice but he frequently visits his patients when they are admitted to the hospital.

He attributed the improvement of things in the hospital to the appointment of the experienced Phillip Tshuketana as acting chief executive officer.

Patient Sibongile Thwala said she was happy that the hospital had been improved to ensure that patients were given good treatment.

"We used to wait for long hours before receiving treatment but things have now changed," Thwala said.

Before the arrival of Tshuketana in July 2008 the hospital had 18 doctors. The number has risen to 34.

When contacted yesterday for comment about the latest developments, Tshuketana referred all enquiries to the provincial department of health.