Clinical Services
Lentegeur Hospital
Protocol for the Mental Handicap Units
There has been a move away from custodial care, but the legacy of the past will take time to work through. Deinstitutionalisation has resulted in over 200 patients being placed in group homes or with their families i.e. discharged from hospital. Together with natural attrition, the number of inpatients has declined from 1600 in 1992 to 1200 in 1999.
No new long-term patients are admitted. Some people coming in via the short term programme may ultimately stay for prolonged periods. No person is "institutionalised". Patients are only admitted for medical reasons.
Lentegeur Hospital has a fifteen bedded ward for children. The focus is on behaviour management or developmental skills training. The expected length of stay is from one to three months.
Outpatient services are held at both hospitals. There are no drainage areas. Alexandra Hospital tends to focus on adults and Lentegeur on children. However, if people live closer to a particular hospital, they can be seen at that hospital.
The Alexandra Hospital outpatient service is held weekly. Patients are divided into two categories - those with dual diagnosis and the other mentally handicapped patients. Although the distinction is not absolute, those with a dual diagnosis are seen by the psychiatrist or psychiatric registrar and the others by the multidisciplinary team. All new patients are discussed by the clinical team on receipt of an application form and an allocation for the appropriate consultation is made.
The Lentegeur Hospital outpatient service is held weekly. On one week new patients are seen by a multidisciplinary team and the next week individual follow-up visit are held.
NB - a joint psychopharmacology meeting is held twice a month with the pharmacology department. Complicated cases (in- or outpatients from either hospital) are discussed.
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Indications and exclusion criteria for admission - All admissions are considered by the admissions teams.
Indications are people with mental handicap (IQ < 70) and mental health problems. Acutely psychotic mentally handicapped patients from the community are best admitted to an acute unit (Groote Schuur Hospital, Tygerberg Hospital or one of the APH Psychiatric Hospitals) until the acute problem is treated. Transfer to one of the mental handicap units can be arranged with a member of the admission teams.
Exclusions are mentally handicapped people with social problems and forensic patients.
Indications for transfer of patients to other services - forensic patients with mental handicap.
Arrangements for follow-up after discharge - There are a number of options; outpatient clinic, community mental health team, day hospital, general practitioner or private psychiatrist.
Rates/fees - According to PAWC rates.
Channels of communication -inquiries about admission or in patients and past patients; * Alexandra Hospital phone ext 224 and ask for a member of the admissions team * Lentegeur Hospital phone ext 1283 or 1285.
Contact us
General Enquiries
Dr C Badenhorst
Tel: 021 370 1111
Street Address
Highland Drive,
Mitchell's Plain,
7785