Relatives will be allowed to stay with patients at Thane mental hospital

Thane: Close relatives of patients admitted at the Thane mental hospital have a reason to smile, as now, as per the mental healthcare act relatives of patients can stay with them at the hospital. The hospital currently has around 1,416 patients admitted and the move will help in the speedy-recovery of the patients. “Earlier the family members were only allowed to visit these patients, now relatives will be able to accompany the patients and stay along with them in the hospital premises. This will be done for patients who are in the recovering stage. The facility will be thrown open probably by October,” said Dr Sanjay Bodade, superintendent of Thane mental hospital.

The officials stated that this move will even help decrease the number of abandonment of such patients.

“Though this will help in decrease the number of abandonment, we are surely going to face some challenges when it comes to providing adequate facility to the relatives, making sure about their safety etc,” added Dr Bodade. As per the new rules, now relatives need not go to the court to get a clearance certificate before admitting their patient to the mental hospital. The process however, will be implied on the patients who are abandoned.

“This will help in decreasing the stress that one goes through while following the procedure. Also, the discharge in these cases will be given easily while others go through an evaluation which is done by a committee,” Dr Bodade added.