St Catherine’s Life Path Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, KZN 

NEW MENTAL HEALThcare HOSPITAL NOW OPEN

Life Path Health expanded its family to Pietermaritzburg, the capital and second-largest city of Kwazulu-Natal. The new St Catherine’s Life Path Hospital is the ninth addition to the Life Path Health Group and the first in this province. 

After an exclusive inauguration event on Wednesday, 3 May, the new 36-bed mental health hospital officially opened on Monday, 8 May. The state-of-the-art facility was designed with the patient’s needs in mind, with comfortable rooms, modern equipment, and a team of experienced and qualified professionals committed to providing the highest standard of care.

According to COO Karen Olckers, the new St Catherine’s Life Path Hospital was born from co-founder Jack Bassage and his wife Sue’s vision. “Jack approached Life Path Health years ago with the vision of developing a warm-hearted and quality-driven mental health facility in the area,” she said.

St Catherine’s Life Path Hospital is named after Jack and Sue’s daughter, Catherine, who was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder at an early age. For years, the Bassage family walked the road of treating Catherine’s condition and became deeply involved in Pietermaritzburg’s mental health community. Over the years, they have recognised the shortcomings of the existing services in the area. Their dream of a new hospital became a reality. It now stands on the leafy suburban plot where the Bassage residence used to be.

More About St Catherine’s Life Path Hospital

St Catherine’s Life Path Hospital provides in-patient hospitalisation and is a Designated Service Provider for major Medical Funds:

• Adult Mental Health Treatment

Multi-Professional Team

The multi-professional team consists of the following team members:

• Psychiatrist
• Psychologist
• Nursing Staff
• Occupational Therapist
• Social Worker

 Treatment Programme

The programme focuses on the specific needs of our patients according to their symptoms, diagnoses and level of functioning.

Occupational Therapy Programme

Daily group sessions take place whereby the patients develop life skills to improve their level of functioning once they leave the hospital.

The group sessions focus on:

• Stress management
• Self-esteem
• Communication and interpersonal relationships
• Relaxation
• Day programme planning and living a healthy lifestyle
• Creative activities

 Accommodation

• St Catherine’s Life Path Hospital offers accommodation with an upmarket ambience
• En-suite bedrooms
• Air-conditioning in all areas
• Lockup cupboards
• Wheelchair friendly

Recreation

• Separate areas for smokers and non-smokers
• Courtyard
• Exercise equipment