NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
QUESTION NO. 1726
DATE OF PUBLICATION IN INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 19 SEPTEMBER 2014
(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 17)
Ms K de Kock (DA) to ask the Minister of Health:
(a) What (i) was the original and (ii) is the current capacity of the new
Kimberley Mental Health Hospital and (b) how many beds (i) were originally
planned to be allocated and (ii) have been allocated to the treatment of
substance abuse?
NW2090E
REPLY:
a) (i) The total number of beds in the original contract was 310;
(ii) The total number of beds in the current contract is 266.
Reasons for this are that the international best practice is to treat
mental health patients in community settings as opposed to in
institutions. Therefore there are fewer institutional beds needed. In
terms of the new Mental Health Act, patients with mental health
conditions must be observed for 72 hours in District hospitals before
transfer to mental hospitals.
b) Number of beds for the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
i) The number of beds used for the treatment of substance abuse is
not specifically dedicated. Patients who require treatment for
substance abuse often have other co-morbid mental illnesses for
which they are treated at the same time.
The prevention of substance is a multi-disciplinary approach
which involves the Department of Social Development as well as
other Government Departments and non-governmental organizations.
ii) The number of beds used for the treatment of substance abuse is
not specifically dedicated. Patients who require treatment for
substance abuse often have other co-morbid mental illnesses for
which they are treated at the same time.
The reason for this is that prevention programmes for substance
abuse is the remit of the Department of Social Development. The
transfer of a person to a mental health hospital will be guided
by the Mental Health Act and regulations, and will be for the
treatment of the underlying mental illness. Substance abuse per
se is not a reason for admission to a mental health hospital.
END.