More than 60 psychiatric patients moved from Life Esidimeni homes are still unaccounted for
DA member of the Gauteng legislature for health Jack Bloom says an e-mail from the department shows that there is no name for three of the missing patients
The Gauteng health department has asked mental health nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) to check whether they are providing care to any of the patients who form part of a list of 62 missing Life Esidimeni patients. However, seven of the patients are not even properly named.On Friday, DA member of the provincial legislature for health Jack Bloom said the request was sent via e-mail on Tuesday with the heading: "Life Esidimeni cohort 62 patients not located."The full names of 55 patients are given‚ with ID numbers in most‚ but not all‚ cases. In three cases only a first name is known and in another case only the surname‚ said Bloom.There is no name at all for three of the missing patients — all that is known about them is that two are female and one is male‚ and their dates of birth are given."I am appalled that a year after the health ombud’s report on the Esidimeni tragedy‚ so many patients are still unaccounted for and may never be found‚ especially those whose names aren’t even...
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