The Citizen reports that 41 health workers in Gauteng public hospitals were assaulted last year, the vast majority by psychiatric patients.  This was indicated by Gauteng health MEC Bandile Masuku in response to questions in the Gauteng Legislature.  

He explained:  “In almost all the cases reported, the perpetrator was a patient and the majority were psychiatric patients.  About 95% of assaults are by patients with a psychiatric diagnosis.”  George Mukhari Hospital in GaRankuwa, north of Pretoria, had the most assaults, with 10 attacks, including one where three security guards were bitten by a psychiatric patient.  The Bheki Mlangeni Hospital in Soweto had eight attacks, six of which were perpetrated by psychiatric patients.  “It is very disappointing that this hospital has still not taken effective security measures as a psychiatric patient allegedly murdered another patient there recently,” commented the Democratic Alliance’s Jack Bloom.  He went on to observe:  “It is really shameful that following the Life Esidimeni tragedy, the facilities for psychiatric patients in our hospitals are still inadequate to prevent harm.”

• Read the original of the above report on page 8 of The Citizen of 26 May 2020

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