Many psychiatric patients uncared for at state hospitals
THREE of the seven state mental health facilities housing 1 280 patients in the Eastern Cape do not have permanent psychiatrists.
Eastern Cape health MEC Helen Sauls-August provided details on psychiatrists in a written reply to questions by DA MPL Celeste Barker.
Barker, in a statement yesterday, cautioned Health Ombudsman Professor Malegapuru Makgoba not to be deceived by pretty window dressing at ailing health facilities in the province.
Makgoba is in East London to investigate allegations of mismanagement and maltreatment of psychiatric patients at Tower Hospital in Fort Beaufort.
Dr Kiran Sukeri sent a damning report to Makgoba and the Eastern Cape health department, before he resigned from the hospital, alleging that resources were misused, patients and staff were left hungry and that a group of psychiatric patients had been housed in solitary confinement without a doctor to monitor their health.
Barker alleged yesterday that shocking revelations of the systemic failure and inadequacy at state mental health facilities were contained in the reply to her questions by Sauls-August. Vacant posts for psychiatrists had not been filled, she said.
● At Elizabeth Donkin Hospital one psychiatrist post was filled out of eight posts. Seven doctors either resigned or were transferred. There were 145 patients.
● At Tower Hospital there was no psychiatrist, following the resignation of Sukeri on March 31. There are 321 patients.
● At Komani Hospital one psychiatrist post was filled. The other had been vacant since March 2014. There are 410 patients.
● At Fort England Hospital five out of six psychiatrist posts were filled and one psychiatrist was doing sessional duty. There are 298 patients.
● At Dora Nginza Mbulawa Mental Health Unit one psychiatrist was employed in an acting capacity since February, out of four posts. There are 35 patients.
● At Mthatha Mental Health Unit none of three posts has been filled. Two of them have been vacant since 2015. There are 12 patients.
● At East London Mental Health Unit none of three psychiatrist posts has been filled. There are 30 patients.
Sauls-August welcomed the investigation by Makgoba at Tower Hospital.
“This investigation is important for the functioning, management of healthcare facilities, particularly those that provide healthcare services to the vulnerable groups,” she said in a statement on Wednesday.
“We are committed to implementing all findings of the ombudsman.” — TimesLIVE