Death NGO still treating psychiatric patients

The Precious Angels NGO in Pretoria, where nine psychiatric patients died after being transferred from Life Healthcare Esidimeni, is still treating 35 public patients, but in state hospitals, not on its own premises.

This was revealed last week on Friday when the Gauteng Legislature Health Committee visited the Tshepong Health Centre in Pretoria where, 176 psychiatric patients are living.

I questioned Gauteng Health Department officials about the Precious Angels NGO and was informed that their patients had been moved from their Atteridgeville and Danville facilities to various government hospitals as follows:

- Kalafong Hospital – 13

- Pretoria West Hospital – 10

- Tshwane District Hospital – 6

- Weskoppies Hospital - 6

Although the patients are in state hospitals, Precious Angels staff are still in charge of taking care of them.

I am concerned about this as there needs to be accountability for the 9 deaths out of 45 patients that were sent to this NGO.

How can this NGO still have any responsibility for psychiatric patients who require specialist care?

The situation at Tshepong NGO is more satisfactory. It is based in a facility that was previously a SANTA TB sanatorium next to the Kalafong Hospital, and has 58 staff to look after 176 patients.

Five patients have died there this year, apparently from natural causes as they were elderly, and four have been discharged to their families.

Tshepong staff denied that they were short of food although they do get food from charities and from the food bank of the Tshwane Metro Council.

The Gauteng Health Department should ensure continuous monitoring of all psychiatric patients at NGOs to ensure that they are treated properly.

Statement issued by Jack Bloom MPL, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, 7 November 2016