Pretoria - Gauteng Health MEC Qedani Mahlangu says the department plans to reduce the number of psychiatric patients at facilities by discharging all those who are responding well to treatment and integrate them back in communities.
She said these patients should be given treatment at their homes. The MEC on Tuesday announced that the department has given notice to terminate its contract with Life Healthcare Esidimeni Hospital in Randfontein, which provides inpatient care, treatment and rehabilitation for people with chronic psychiatric disorders and severe intellectual disability.
The department on Wednesday said the contract termination is in line with the Mental Health Care Act no 17 of 2002, which encourages mental health care practitioners to treat mental health care users in the least restrictive environment, as reflected in Chapter 2 subsection 6(8)(1)(2).
Chapter two subsection 6(8)(1)(2) states that persons providing care treatment and rehabilitation service must provide such services in a manner that facilitates community care of mental health care users, human dignity and privacy of every mental health care user must be respected and every mental health care user ha to develop to their full potential and be integrated to the community.
This, according to the department, is what informed the department’s decision.
MEC Mahlangu said the department has spent about R323 712 000 on private hospital treatment for around 2 378 patients.
“It is important to note that the department cannot afford this. The budget allocation, which was previously utilised on the said facility, will be reprioritised accordingly.
“This process will also assist our efforts to employ more employees at our psychiatric wards,” said MEC Mahlangu.
However, the MEC said patients who require further management will be referred to public hospitals, which have psychiatric wards.
“This will help as patients will be treated closer to home. We will also continue to work with NGOs in the mental health environment to assist us manage these patients accordingly.
“In preparation for the said termination, the department will be referring less patients to the Life healthcare Esidimeni Hospital,” said the MEC.
Intervention in Lenasia South Hospital
Meanwhile, the department said it has delegated the Johannesburg Health District to oversee the appointment of employees at Lenasia South Hospital following allegations of corruption levelled against the hospital management.
This was announced by the MEC on Tuesday in written reply to questions in the Gauteng Legislature.
The MEC also revealed that the interview process for 31 support employee positions that have already been conducted at the hospital will be redone in due course.
“We trust this will allay fears concerning the purported interference and maintain the integrity of the appointment process,” said MEC Mahlangu. - SAnews.gov.za
