Its an emergency

Report to your nearest Emergency Room (ER).

Emergency assistance requested via email, voicemail, text message, social media is not available. Contact 079 494 6362 at any time to speak to medical paging services that can explain the emergency processes for my practice in person.

I would recommend Life Vincent Pallotti Hospital ER or Rondebosch Medical Centre ER as I am affiliated to both these hospitals for private facilities. If you are a patient known to me, they can discuss your case with me and arrange appropriate treatment that may include admission to St Vincent's and Summit Clinic, respectively.

It depends where you live for government facilities, and examples include New Somerset Hospital, Groote Schuur Hospital and Victoria Hospital.

For urgent matters that do not require an emergency room visit, contact my office on 021 761 1188 during office hours to arrange an appointment. Patients known to me can generally be accommodated relatively quickly. New patients may be advised to be first assessed by a GP/psychologist/counsellor before an appointment is arranged. Contacting private psychiatric clinics like Crescent Clinic, St Vincents, Summit, and Akeso Kenilworth are often good ways to place an urgent meeting with a psychiatrist.

Requests for prescriptions are often left for the last minute and become urgent/emergency scenarios. Pharmacies are allowed to issue emergency stock until you are able too secure an appointment. I do not generally give repeat scripts without seeing/reviewing patients. If you cannot see me due to financial or other reasons, request a referral letter that you can show to your GP or local government clinic to obtain your medication.

Of note, involuntary admissions where symptoms are severe and not willing to be admitted can only be made at government facilities in Cape Town. Involuntary admissions include a family member completing an application for involuntary care which initiates a 72-hour evaluation (if the admitting doctors agree there are sufficient grounds). This form is called an MHCA form 4 and is available at emergency rooms.

Pandemic practises: telemedicine, online consults and face to face.

We are prepared to assist patients during this challenging covid and physical distancing times while respecting covid physical distancing.

Virtual consults are via secure platforms that are available and accessible to both parties. If a prescription is required, we will need to email directly to the pharmacy you utilise.

Face to face consults are conducted with face masks and in a well-ventilated room with adequate physical distance. Screening is mandatory before the appointment.

The private admission units I work with require a negative covid test that you can do three days before the admission or upon admission.