File. Picture: Jacques Nelles
Three more violent incidents by mental health patients have taken place at the Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto since early May.
This was revealed by Gauteng Health MEC, Bandile Masuku in the Gauteng Legislature.
According to Masuku, there have been a number of violent incidents at the hospital since January this year:
Masuku says these incidents were caused by “the medical conditions of the patients. These patients are also managed in a non-secluded environment as there are no dedicated mental health wards.”
The Democratic Alliance’s Jack Bloom says “the key problem is that mental health patients are kept in an ordinary ward rather than a dedicated high security ward which should have been built long ago.
“I welcome the precautionary suspension of CEO Ruth Mabyana as she has failed dismally to manage the hospital for six years. She should be replaced with someone who can ensure that there is safety and quality care for all patients at this hospital.”
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