Valkenberg Psychiatric Hospital - Observatory, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

The forensic psychiatry unit at Valkenberg Hospital is dedicated to providing psychiatric assessments of defendants referred by the courts and rehabilitation of mentally disordered offenders. The Unit is responsible for educating students and colleagues. Research into current issues has a high priority. Within the greater context of mental health care in the community the Unit recognizes that it has to lobby for patients’ rights and for needed reforms.

The Unit consists of the following : best replica watches
 

• Maximum Security Ward (20) (including observation cases)
• Secure Wards (9/10)
• Closed/Controlled Ward (7)
• Open Ward (12)
• OPD

Ward 20 is the most secure and contains potentially dangerous patients and prisoners (i.e. observation cases). Wards 9 and 10 are medium secure, and contain patients who have been stabilised in ward 20 but do not function well enough for open wards. Ward 7 is a closed ward that houses low functioning long-term patients. Ward 12 is an open ward, which prepares patients for discharge (usually by allowing them extended periods of leave and freedom of movement), although it does cater for chronic patients whose social circumstances are an obstacle to discharge.

The patients are graded from high security risk through to low risk. Ward 20 is designated a Maximum Security Ward in terms of the Mental Health Act. Low risk patients are eventually placed in ward12.

Each ward has a programme constructed within a behavioural/milieu system. Patients are placed into groups and given privileges accordingly.