According to Jack Bloom, the Democratic Alliance’s Shadow MEC for Health, a number of former Esidimeni patients are receiving good treatment at the Clinix Selby Park Hospital in inner-city Johannesburg.
They were relocated to the facility after being transferred to unlicensed non-governmental organisations (NGO) where over 100 patients died.
Bloom visited the hospital with his colleague Dr Neil Campbell, Member of the Provincial Legislature, to check on the condition of the patients.
“Hospital management informed us that they have 380 former Esidimeni patients and are expecting 15 more before the end of the month,” Bloom said.
The facility is fully staffed, with four psychiatrists and a team of medical doctors, social workers, dietitians and occupational therapists.
The patients receive a balanced diet with three full meals a day and snacks available in between. The hospital has large grounds suitable for recreation and gardening. “We saw a gym facility, and table tennis, soccer tables and a library are also available,” Bloom said.
The facility has a renewable four-year contract with the Gauteng Department of Health which pays R495 per patient every day. This amounts to approximately R15 000 a patient each month.
“I am pleased that the patients are receiving good treatment and that about half of them can be rehabilitated to go home or to an assisted living facility,” Bloom said.
The Department has committed itself to moving all former Esidimeni patients from unlicensed NGOs by the end of April. Bloom said this was agreed upon after the Health Ombudsman extended the original 45-day deadline from 1 February when his report was released.
In addition to this, an Esidimeni centre in Germiston (the Waverly facility) will be re-opened and approximately 200 patients who are still in unlawful NGOs will be moved there.
“I am relieved that the patients will all be well looked after by the end of this month,” Bloom said.
While he is content about the transfers, he feels police investigations and the inquests are taking too long and should be sped up.
“There will only be true justice in this whole sorry saga when the perpetrators are judged and punished by a court of law,” he explained.
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