Six months after making its psychiatry and de-addiction ward operational, St George’s Hospital in SoBo has treated 83 patients, marking a significant step forward in strengthening mental health services in the city as of March 25. Hospital officials said that the ward, which began functioning at full capacity late last year, has been receiving a steady influx of patients seeking help for substance abuse, including alcohol and drug dependency. 

“Before September-end last year, we were treating patients only on an OP [outpatient] basis. However, we have seen a good response since we began admitting the patients. Though the number of independent walk-ins is still low due to lack of awareness, many patients that come for different treatments in other wards are referred to our ward if they are found to be addicts of any substance,” said one of the psychiatry ward doctors.