Update: Mental facility to be turned into rehab
Family not informed about closure.
A single mother of a cerebral disabled boy, Esmé Strauss was shocked when she heard from her son’s fellow patients that the government will not renew its contract with the facility he was housed in – Witpoort Care Centre in Brakpan.
She was even more disgruntled when she heard that the mentally handicapped patients will have to make way for substance abusers.
“Its ridiculous. Mentally handicapped patients did not ask to be in their condition while drug addicts make a life choice,” said Strauss.
Her son was then transferred to the Life Baneng Centre in Roodepoort, only to hear that it is also going to close March 2016.
“I would like to know what is happening with the money the state used to pay these facilities with. What is going to happen with these patients who can not afford semi-private or private care? State facilities like Weskoppies will never be able to accommodate all these patients,” said a furious Strauss.
DA Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom again weighed in.
“The Gauteng Health Department should reconsider its cancellation of the contract with Esidimeni Life Healthcare, Witpoort Care Centre in Brakpan and Life Baneng Centre in Roodepoort which will close mental homes that house 2060 psychiatric patients. Esidimeni has informed relatives of patients that it looks after that they will be discharged between now and March next year when its contract ends,” said Bloom.
“I doubt the claims by the department that it will be able to find places for the 2060 patients in existing hospitals and NGOs. This means that many patients will end up with their families who are not able to cope with them. Others may even end up on the streets with all the risks and tragedy that this entails.
“I see little evidence that the department has renovated enough wards and appointed enough staff at existing hospitals to cope with all the discharged patients by March next year. Mental Health NGOs will also be unable to cope with a large number of extra patients.
More time is needed to make alternative arrangements to avert a disaster in this matter. The department should consider its options more carefully and extend its contract with Esidimeni for a further period,” Bloom concluded.
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