Western Cape expands specialised mental healthcare with new 30-bed Acute Psychiatric Unit
Responding to the growing demand for specialised mental healthcare, the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness has officially opened the new 30-bed Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU) at Eerste River Hospital, strengthening access to inpatient psychiatric services across the Cape Metro.
The R86 million investment reflects the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening the infrastructure that enables high-quality healthcare. Purpose-built facilities such as the Acute Psychiatric Unit create environments where multidisciplinary healthcare teams can provide specialised care that supports treatment, recovery and patient dignity.
Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, said, "Over recent years, we have seen growing demand for acute psychiatric services across our province. Our responsibility is to ensure that our health system responds.”
"This investment is about far more than increasing capacity. Every person experiencing a mental health crisis deserves to receive the right care, at the right time, in an environment designed to support healing and dignity. That is exactly what this new facility has been built to provide."
The unit has been thoughtfully designed as part of the therapeutic environment itself. Features such as generous natural light, well-ventilated wards, dual courtyards and carefully considered layouts help create calm, healing spaces that promote recovery while enhancing patient safety. The separation of patient care areas from operational and maintenance spaces further supports uninterrupted care and a more dignified patient experience.
Reflecting on the new APU, Provincial Minister of Infrastructure Tertuis Simmers said, “This modern 1 400m² facility will significantly improve the hospital’s ability to safely care for vulnerable mental health users. Every design decision, from layout to materials, was guided by the principles of dignity, safety, and an improved patient experience, while supporting an effective working environment for clinical staff.”
Minister Wenger added healthcare infrastructure should be viewed not simply as buildings, but as an important enabler of quality care.
"While today marks an important milestone in expanding mental healthcare infrastructure, it is our healthcare professionals who bring this facility to life. I want to thank the dedicated teams at Eerste River Hospital who have continued to provide compassionate care despite growing demand for mental health services, as well as the architects, engineers, project managers, contractors and infrastructure teams whose expertise has created a facility that will benefit patients and families for decades to come."
The new facility is the first of three Acute Psychiatric Units that will become operational in this financial year. Together with the new units at Khayelitsha Hospital and New Somerset Hospital, an additional 90 acute psychiatric beds will be brought online, improving the province's ability to ensure that more patients receive the right level of care, at the right time.
Media Enquiries:
Robyn Thomson
Spokesperson for the Provincial Minister of Health and Wellness
Email: robyn.thomson@westerncape.gov.za