Concerns raised over death of 36 psych patients following transfer

The Gauteng Department of Health has promised a full investigation into the mysterious deaths of 36 psychiatric patients while in the care of non-governmental organisations.

This follows concerns raised by the Democratic Alliance’s Shadow Health MEC, Jack Bloom, who questioned the alleged high death toll in just under a year.

According to Bloom, the patients had been transferred from Life Healthcare Esidimeni, a healthcare group, following the cancellation of a long-term contract by the department, which is also charged with running State hospitals including the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

“The Gauteng Health MEC, Qedani Mahlangu, disclosed in an oral reply to my questions in the Legislature, that the psychiatric patients were moved into 122 NGOs after the department cancelled its long-running contract with the centre, which looked after about 2 000 patients,” he explained.

“I am horrified that so many patients have died from undisclosed causes after being transferred to NGOs, many of which relatives have said are unsuitable.”

According to Bloom, Mahlangu allegedly explained that the patients had been transferred without clinical files that detailed their medical history and that doctors were sent to the NGOs to examine their medical needs.

“I challenged the MEC to apologise for the poor manner in which the transfers to NGOs were done, and she said that the department had apologised where mistakes had been made,” he said

Responding to the scathing attack was Steve Mabona, spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Health, who confirmed the shockingly high deaths at the hands of NGOs. “The department has since launched an investigation into the matter to establish the cause of these deaths and the outcome of the investigation will be announced as soon as it is available,” he said.

He further detailed the reason for the cancellation and transfer of all the patients from Esidimeni, explaining that it was done in accordance with the Mental Health Care Act no 17 of 2002, which encourages mental healthcare practitioners to treat mental healthcare users in the least restrictive environment. To this end, the department had been working with 122 organisations, 14 of which are new, which serviced over 5 000 mental patients over a 10-year period.

“During this process, we have [also] refurbished Weskoppies, Sterkfontein and Cullinan psychiatric hospitals accordingly and we call upon all stakeholders to work with us in the best interest of patients,” he said.

Bloom concluded by calling for accountability on the shocking death toll of the mental patients by the department. “The department should also ascertain the cause of death in all cases and take stern action where there is proven negligence,” he said.

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