In a quest to deliver basic mental health services to communities of the North West Province, the Department of Health has designated Bophelong, Witrand, Job Shimankana Tabane and Taung hospitals for the sole purpose of doing 72 hour psychiatric observation for diagnostic purposes, and give patients further mental health care, treatment and rehabilitation in a hospital set up.
Recently the department embarked in a process of taking the mental health service nearer to communities. Two hospitals, Mafikeng Provincial Hospital and Tshepong Hospital, were listed as 72 hour psychiatric observation units where only observation will be done. Once the observation is completed, the patient will be transferred to the nearest designated hospital for further care, treatment and rehabilitation.
The purpose of the 72 hour assessment is to ascertain the cause of the patient's symptoms. Patients are assessed daily by a medical doctor, psychiatric trained registered nurse and a psychiatrist. Most substance intoxicated patients would recover from their intoxication during this period. Those patients requiring further involuntary treatment would be transferred to a designated psychiatric hospital for further management.
This innovation is aimed at increasing availability and accessibility of mental health services locally in less restrictive settings and reduces unnecessary referrals to psychiatric hospitals.
MEC Magome Masike said the establishment of these 72 hour psychiatric observation centres in the province will partially address the challenge of overcrowding in our psychiatric hospitals, as majority of patients are admitted with drug-induced psychosis, and therefore will be observed and appropriately referred to designated hospitals for further care.
“In future, we plan to list Moses Kotane Hospital and Brits Hospital in Bojanala District as well as Joe Morolong Hospital in the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District to offer72 hours of psychiatric observation services,” said MEC Masike.
Enquiries:
Tebogo Lekgethwane, Provincial Health spokesperson
Cell: 082 929 9958
Email: tlekgethwane@nwpg.gov.za
