About 400 contract nursing contracts have been shed in the Western Cape, which have impacted the psychiatric services in the province.

Nursing union, Denosa’s Western Cape Secretary, Jaco van Heerden says that little is being done to fill the gap caused by these lay-offs.

He says that the training of new nurses in the province is not a priority.

“Nurses are now looking outside of the province and the country for employment. As the Western Cape draws in qualified nurses from other provinces, patients are suffering due to the language barriers they encounter” said van Heerden.

He was speaking as Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close.