Location Operations OUTPATIENT SERVICES

29 Psychiatric And Mental Health Services Operational Policy 6.2.1.2 A DMISSION AND DISCHARGE • Any medical oficer or specialist in the Psychiatric Department Hospital may transfer any patient to this ward. • Only a specialist may transfer any patient out of this ward. • Patients may not be discharged from this ward directly home. 6.2.1.3 S TANDARD OF C ARE • Patients in this ward shall have 1 patient to 1 staff or 2 patients to 1 nursing care. • All patients in this ward shall be reviewed at least once every shift by the medical oficer 3 times per day, every day. • All patients in the ward shall be reviewed daily by the specialist. • At least one staff in this ward shall have post basic psychiatric nursing at every shift in this ward. • All staff in this ward should have at least 3 months experience working with psychiatric in patients. • Relevant investigations shall be ordered and the results traced and reviewed by the medical oficer on the same day they are ordered. • Relatives may request to talk to the specialist medical oficer in charge at least once per day. 6.2.1.4 I NFRA STRUCTURE AND F ACILITIES • The ward should preferably be fully air-conditioned. • Toileting, dining facilities shall be separate from patients in other wards. • A Resuscitation trolley, deibrillation machine, oxygen, suction, a patient monitoring device which measures blood pressure and pulse shall be present. 6.2.1.5 V ISITING • Visiting may be restricted by the medical oficer or specialist in charge of the patient. • The senior paramedical staff on duty may delay or disallow visiting for his shift depending on the condition of the patient and the ward. • Visitors shall be allowed into the ward after brieing by the staff. 30 Psychiatric And Mental Health Services Operational Policy 6.2.1.6 C ARE P LAN • All patients shall have a nursing and a psychiatric care plan. • The specialist in charge shall determine and review the care plan.

6.2.2 Acute Ward

6.2.2.1 O BJECTIVES OF W ARD • To quickly stabilize the acutely ill psychiatric patients. • To prevent injury to the patient and staff. • To form a therapeutic alliance with the patient. • To form a therapeutic alliance with the care giver. • To exclude organic problems for the patients symptoms. 6.2.2.2 A DMISSION AND DISCHARGE • All new patients must be admitted to the acute ward. • Only a specialist may transfer any patient out of this ward. • Patients may be discharged from this ward directly home. 6.2.2.3 S TANDARD OF C ARE • Patients in this ward shall have 4 patients to 1 staff nursing care. • All patients in this ward shall be reviewed at least once a day by the medical oficer. • All patients in the ward shall be reviewed at least twice per week by the specialist. • The senior nursing oficer in this ward shall have post basic psychiatric nursing or have at least 6 months experience working with psychiatric in patients. • All staff in charge of a shift should have at least 3 months experience working with psychiatric in patients. • Relevant investigations shall be ordered and the results traced and reviewed by the medical oficer on the same day they are ordered. • Relatives may be allowed to meet with the medical oficer in charge. 6.2.2.4 I NFRA STRUCTURE AND F ACILITIES • The ward should preferably be fully air-conditioned. • Toileting, dining facilities shall be separate from patients in other wards.