The Mental Health Review Board is probing the deaths of three patients at the Kimberley mental health hospital, which occurred when the facility was experiencing power outages due to rampant cable theft.
THE MENTAL Health Review Board is probing the deaths of three patients at the Kimberley mental health hospital, which occurred when the facility was experiencing power outages due to rampant cable theft.
This week, Dr Henk Boshoff, a commissioner with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC), stated that they were informed of three recent deaths among mental health-care users following an inspection of the hospital in May.
He indicated that according to the Mental Health Review Board (MHRB), the deaths were related to the “poor infrastructural condition” of the hospital.
“This ranges from the lack of electricity supply due to cable theft dating back to 2023, which leads to extreme cold and darkness.
“There is a lack of warm water and continuous cutting of running water where patients bathe themselves with cold water in buckets. The toilets are not functioning and the broken windows lead to exposure to the elements. There are no blankets for patients and a lack of adequate staff.”
Boshoff stated that there were only two psychiatrists employed at the hospital. “Since three psychiatrists resigned last year, the vacancies have not been filled.”
He added that the hospital was operating below capacity at 53 percent.
“Out of 287 commissioned beds, only 153 beds are in use. This was attributed to infrastructural challenges and human and financial resource constraints. There are serious structural defects in some parts of the hospital that render it uninhabitable.
“The condition of the hospital is gradually declining. Unkempt grass and holes in ceilings, among others, are an eyesore.”
He indicated that the hospital was left without electricity for prolonged periods due to cable theft at the electrical power sub-station.
“The hospital has had to rely on a generator, which it switches off between 1pm and 5pm to prevent it from breaking down”
Boshoff pointed out that the centralisation of supply chain management processes and the appointment of contractors by the Northern Cape Department of Health led to delays in procurement.
“This process impedes the hospital from being effective and hinders the provision of services to the mental health-care users of the hospital.
“Telephones have not been functional at the hospital for an inordinate period. The closed-circuit television system and biometric system are non-functional due to the lack of electricity. This poses a serious security risk to the staff and mental health-care users.”
He added that the laundry and pharmacy were unable to operate without electricity.
“Laundry had to be sent to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital and the pharmacy had to be relocated to West End Hospital because of the electricity woes.”
The acting head of the Northern Cape Department of Health, Mxolisi Mlatha, stated that they were investigating the deaths at the facility.
“One patient experienced a sudden bowel obstruction. Complications were experienced and the patient subsequently died. The second patient had a blocked artery. The third patient contracted pneumonia.
“More details surrounding the causes of death will be made available once the investigation is completed,” said Mlatha.
He pointed out that the deceased mental health patients could have had other co-morbidities.
“All three patients were transferred to Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital for medical attention but unfortunately died.”
Mlatha acknowledged that there were infrastructural issues at the facility.
“It can become very cold during winter. We didn’t have electricity because of the damage to the sub-station. We have attended to heating and air conditioning as the electricity was restored on August 15.
“We had to keep the doors open as they only operate with electricity. Our teams are going through all the equipment to see what functions and what needs to be attended to in terms of maintenance.”
Mlatha added that they would make use of armed response services to secure the sub-station.
“We will also appoint support staff to ensure that all wards are fully functional, although we do not have an available budget. It is also a challenge to attract critical skills to the Province such as psychiatrists. We have sent two doctors for psychiatric training although one is not able to attend training this year.”
The MEC for Health, Maruping Lekwene, stated that criminals had stolen two transformers.
“They cleared the entire sub-station and took every piece of wire inside. The generators are not built to run on a 24-hour basis and had to be switched off.”
He added that “most of the issues” had since been addressed after the electricity supply was restored.
