Staff at Alice’s Victoria Hospital are still jumpy after a psychiatric ward patient apparently set her ward alight last Monday.
The patient, who was alone in a six-bed unit in the general female ward, is said to have torched some mattresses and watched the room go up in flames, said staff who spoke on condition of anonymity.
When the smoke reached the rest of the ward, patients were rushed out, some of them choking as they were moved to other wards, staff said.
The room was soot-blackened and electrical wiring was burnt.
The provincial health department is yet to assess the damage.
Health spokesman Siyanda Manana said the patient was kept at Victoria Hospital for longer because psychiatric hospitals had “a challenge” regarding space.
“Relatives visit patients and in the midst of the visits the patients return to the wards on their own sometimes. It’s in such an instance that the patient managed to get a matchstick and burn the mattress,” said Manana.
Nurses put out the fire last Monday afternoon as they waited for the fire department to respond.
Staff have questioned why psychiatric patients were kept in the hospital for long periods, certainly beyond the standard 72-hour observation period.
The patient who is believed to have started the fire was entering her second week at the facility.
The hospital is able to transfer psychiatric patients to Fort England in Grahamstown or Tower Hospital in Fort Beaufort, both of which specialise in psychiatry.
Staff were puzzled at how a patient in a psychiatric ward was given access to matches.
Patients were later moved to SS Gida Hospital and Fort England.
However, some loved ones visiting Victoria Hospital were shocked to find out about the transfer happening without any notification.
In 2013 the Dispatch reported an incident where a nurse at Victoria was beaten by a psychiatric patient and suffered trauma.
Staff, fearing for their safety, said they had to care for six patients in the male and female psychiatric wards at a time and some stayed for two to three months.
Manana said all patients were safe. Some male patients who had inhaled smoke or who had raised concern over the incident were moved to SS Gida and the female patient was taken to Fort England. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
Patient sets fire to hospital ward
The patient, who was alone in a six-bed unit in the general female ward, is said to have torched some mattresses and watched the room go up in flames, said staff who spoke on condition of anonymity.
When the smoke reached the rest of the ward, patients were rushed out, some of them choking as they were moved to other wards, staff said.
The room was soot-blackened and electrical wiring was burnt.
The provincial health department is yet to assess the damage.
Health spokesman Siyanda Manana said the patient was kept at Victoria Hospital for longer because psychiatric hospitals had “a challenge” regarding space.
“Relatives visit patients and in the midst of the visits the patients return to the wards on their own sometimes. It’s in such an instance that the patient managed to get a matchstick and burn the mattress,” said Manana.
Nurses put out the fire last Monday afternoon as they waited for the fire department to respond.
Staff have questioned why psychiatric patients were kept in the hospital for long periods, certainly beyond the standard 72-hour observation period.
The patient who is believed to have started the fire was entering her second week at the facility.
The hospital is able to transfer psychiatric patients to Fort England in Grahamstown or Tower Hospital in Fort Beaufort, both of which specialise in psychiatry.
Staff were puzzled at how a patient in a psychiatric ward was given access to matches.
Patients were later moved to SS Gida Hospital and Fort England.
However, some loved ones visiting Victoria Hospital were shocked to find out about the transfer happening without any notification.
In 2013 the Dispatch reported an incident where a nurse at Victoria was beaten by a psychiatric patient and suffered trauma.
Staff, fearing for their safety, said they had to care for six patients in the male and female psychiatric wards at a time and some stayed for two to three months.
Manana said all patients were safe. Some male patients who had inhaled smoke or who had raised concern over the incident were moved to SS Gida and the female patient was taken to Fort England. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos