Akeso Stepping Stones

Situated in Kommetjie, in the Western Cape, Akeso Stepping Stones offers specialist inpatient treatment for a range of psychiatric and addictive illnesses through its Dual Diagnosis/Addiction Unit, including substance abuse and addiction.

Established in 1985, the hospital aims to provide a safe and comfortable environment where patients can recover and regain their sense of security and self, under the expert care of specialists in both physical and mental health.

Akeso Stepping Stones prides itself on treating both patients and their loved ones with dignity and respect, delivering clinical excellence in world-class facilities with the ultimate aim of helping patients and their loved ones not only recover, but also understand their illness, and thereby change the direction of their lives.

Akeso hospitals are South Africa’s foremost psychiatric treatment hospitals, providing individual, integrated and family-oriented treatment for a range of psychiatric, psychological and addictive conditions.

All our psychiatric hospitals are staffed by a wide range of medical professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, social workers, pharmacists and nurses, all of whom are dedicated to providing the best possible patient care, to ensure the best possible outcome for patients and their loved ones.

Address & contact details

Cnr Main Road & Van Imhoff Way

Kommetjie

Cape Town

7976

GPS:

-34.14144,18.324931

View street map

Tel:

+27 (0)21 783 4230

Hospital management

Hospital manager

Nickie Crookes

nickie.c@akeso.co.za

Nursing manager

Anthony Mpongo

Financial manager

Debbie West

COPE manager

Michelle Bezuidenhout

General information

We take pride in the services we offer and are committed to being active partners in your treatment. However, we need you to be just as active in this partnership. Treatment involves a willingness to talk about the issues in your life with honesty; it involves striving to develop new methods of coping, and it certainly takes courage, motivation and great determination.

Upon admission to the hospital, there are naturally a number of initial assessments that will be done. You may have an initial assessment, followed by a meeting with the nursing staff who will require some details from you in order to formulate a nursing care plan. A psychiatrist will assess you, and a doctor will interview you to assess your current clinical needs. Blood samples may also be required for routine tests and screenings. A consultant from our therapy services team will assess you and determine which therapy programme you should undertake during your treatment at the hospital.

The therapy programme that you will attend during your stay at the hospital forms a fundamental base of your overall treatment. You will be assessed as soon as practically suitable and appropriate after your admission. An initial programme will be discussed and agreed with you. It may change during the course of your treatment, depending on your progress and needs.

Temperatures range from 07°C in July to 34°C in January. As a guideline, we recommend the following based on the time of year of your stay:

Shirts/T-shirts
Trousers/jeans/shorts
Windproof jacket
Sweaters
Open shoes/sandals for the beach, comfortable walking shoes for hiking
Pyjamas
In summer: beach towel, swimming costume/trunks – no bikinis
Sun hat and sun block lotion SPF 30+
Toiletries
Chronic medication
Plug adaptor

Pocket money

Pocket money for cigarettes, telephone call cards, snacks, recovery literature, etc. can be brought in or preferably transferred directly into our bank account prior to admission. The daily allowance should not exceed R80 per day. Credit is not available at our facility. Any unspent pocket money will be refunded on discharge.

Internet/Computers

We would prefer that you do not bring laptops, notebooks, or tablets, etc. Special requests for access to the internet and/or use of computers must be discussed prior to admission.

Communication with family and friends

Telephone contact with family or friends is permitted only after the first seven days. This allows time for you to settle into the programme and allows your family time to process whatever feelings they may have. The family may however contact us at any time. Should you have small children, contact will be allowed during the first seven days, by arrangement.

Laundry

We have reasonably priced laundry facilities where clothes can be washed and ironed for patients. We provide towels for daily use.

Pocket money for cigarettes, telephone call cards, snacks, recovery literature, etc. can be brought in or preferably transferred directly into our bank account prior to admission. The daily allowance should not exceed £5 - £10 (€6 - €12) per day. Credit is not available at our facility. Any unspent pocket money will be refunded on discharge.

Flights

A fixed return flight for one or three months is recommended depending on the length of stay. We can assist with any changes in flights if required. Patients will be met at Cape Town International Airport by our driver on arrival, and transported to Akeso Stepping Stones.

Visas

A visa will not be required as a 90 day visitor’s visa is issued automatically on arrival in Cape Town for people travelling from the UK or Europe.

Travel insurance

We recommend patients have Worldwide Travel Insurance covering medical emergencies.

Programmes

Dual diagnosis unit (addiction)

Dual diagnosis is a specialist category requiring very targeted interventions focused on managing addictive behaviours and their root causes. The programme is based on an integrated bio-psycho-social treatment model which aims to build skills for sustained behavioural change.

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