Five more mental health patients die

FIVE more patients have died in Gauteng since the release of the health ombudsman’s report on the disastrous transfer of mental health patients from Life Esidimeni to non-government organisations (NGOs).

Although the cause of death in all five cases has been given as natural causes, the health department is waiting for postmortems to be done to confirm this.

Giving an update on the transfers‚ Gauteng Health MEC Gwen Ramokgopa said yesterday the department had made significant inroads in addressing the ombudsman’s recommendations.

Not all patients have been transferred yet‚ however‚ due to disputes between the Gauteng Department of Health and patients’ families and, in some cases, NGOs refusing to have patients removed from their facilities.

“The first relocations began on March 3,” Ramokgopa said. “We are pleased to say that all patients‚ except where there are disputes or misunderstandings‚ have been relocated.

“Legal action will be taken to finalise the transfer of the remaining patients.”

The department has also had 20 NGOs closed following the release of the ombudsman’s report.

Referring to the latest five deaths, Ramokgopa said: “We believe that one death is too many. In spite of the fact that the causes of death were cited as natural‚ we have instructed that postmortems be conducted.”

Ninety-six days have passed since the release of the report, which confirmed the deaths of more than 94 mental health patients at NGOs.

The department’s disciplinary hearing for senior officials implicated in the poorly managed transfer of patients has been postponed pending the completion of an appeal process under way.