Transfer of Gauteng psychiatric patients badly handled  

17 May 2016

Following the cancellation of the Gauteng Health Department's contract with Life Healthcare about 1900 psychiatric patients have to be discharged by the end of June.

The SA Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) has been inundated by calls from anxious families who don't know where their mentally ill relatives have been taken.

I am concerned by the disorderly transfer of vulnerable patients to a variety of NGOs and provincial health facilities that may not be able to provide adequate care for them.

The Gauteng Health Department has been rushing this transfer for budgetary reasons, but needs to ensure that there are proper arrangements to inform relatives and maintain the health and dignity of the psychiatric patients.

Issued by Jack Bloom, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Health, 17 May 2016