Health
- (a) What is the total number of patients suffering from mental illness who are being treated in facilities in the province, (b) what are the key factors contributing to that number and (c) how many facilities are there in the province for patients suffering from mental illness;
- whether any of the facilities are not registered; if so, (a) what is the reason for this and (b) what is the total number of unregistered facilities;
- whether her Department has any mechanisms to regulate the non-profit organisations that look after patients suffering from mental illness; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
1. (a) During 2017/18:
225 947 patients accessed mental health care services at Primary Health Care facilities and 595 839 patients were admitted to Western Cape Government Health psychiatric hospitals.
(b) Mental Illness complicated by the high comorbidity of substance use/abuse – mainly alcohol and tik abuse. The clinical presentation is often challenging, with behaviour concerns with increasing violent incidence with property damage.
(c) The four psychiatric hospitals in the Western Cape are Alexandra, Lentegeur, Stikland and Valkenberg. The sub-acute facilities are New Beginnings, supported by Stikland Hospital, and William Slater, supported by Valkenberg Hospital as well as the Mental Health Review Board located in the Cape Town Metro District. Together these facilities support the integration of mental health services into general care settings in line with the Mental Health Care Act, 17 of 2002, and provide access to the full package of psychiatric hospital services to the citizens of the Western Cape. The psychiatric hospitals continue to provide an outreach and support service to acute regional and district hospitals.
2. The Department is aware of challenges with licensing at a number of private and non-profit organisations caring for patients with mental health and/or intellectual disabilities in the Western Cape. The key priority of the Provincial Government Departments is to ensure the safe and adequate care of the vulnerable patients as well as good governance. These facilities exists throughout the Province, as identified by a pro-active survey conducted by Department in last 3 months of 2017.
3. The registration and licensing is a joint responsibility between Department of Health and Department of Social Development, thus these two departments are working jointly on the matter. Other provincial departments and municipalities form part of the response to the needs of our vulnerable communities. There is close collaboration with the Mental Health Review Board and Western Cape Disability Forum. The Department recognizes that the licensing process is guided by a guideline and not legislation, which some organizations provide good care and are governed well, but progressive realization is needed in terms of some of the municipal compliance matters. Clear strategies are being put in place in this regard.
The survey conducted found the main challenges towards licensing in the current assessment lie within the domain of municipal bylaws, such as zoning, and generally did not question the quality of the general or clinical care provided or the governance of the organisations.
Going forward, the Department, in association with Department of Social Development and the City, will assist the NGOs to obtain ultimate compliance to relevant guidelines and municipal bylaws. This process is currently underway. The Department uses a developmental approach so as to support and assist facilities to become licensable.
