The appropriateness of certification of patients to Sterkfontein hospital .
Date
2006-11-14T11:58:31Z
Authors
Khanyile, Vusi Norman
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Abstract
Section 9 and 12 of the South African Mental Health Act No. 18 of 1973 as
amended, defines standards and procedures related to the involuntary
commitment of mentally ill persons to mental institutions or care and rehabilitation
centres. Despite these provisions in practice clinicians are faced with the
challenge of appropriateness of certification of mentally ill persons to psychiatric
hospitals.
This study was undertaken to establish the number of patients regarded as
inappropriately certified and admitted to Sterkfontein Psychiatric Hospital over one
month during 2003. The clinical and demographic characteristics of this group
were investigated. Its impact on hospital resources was assessed and
commitment standards were compared. The patients’ hospital records were used
to achieve the above objectives.
About 20% of patients were found to be inappropriately certified as per definition,
collectively they spent a total of 834 days in hospital at the cost of over half a
million rands. It was concluded that in practice there may be patients who are
inappropriately certified and that they significantly impact on hospital resources.
Reasons for this need further investigations and the certification standards and
procedure may need to be revised to minimize the problem.
Description
Faculty of Health Sciences
School of Medicine
0110993v
Tel: 011 984 1268
Keywords
standards, procedure, South African, Act, care