Fort Napier is situated on a hill overlooking the city of Pietermaritzburg. From the grounds of the hospital there is a panoramic view of the city with historic hills such as “Swartkop” “Foxhill” and “Signal Hill” in the distance. These hills are associated with the historic battles in and around Pietermaritzburg and Fort Napier housed many troops involved in them. A primitive Fort was erected in 1843 and army troops occupied Fort Napier till 1914. In the grounds of Fort Napier there are sealed underground tunnels, e.g. one which links Fort Napier to the Pietermaritzburg railway station.

In 1918 Fort Napier was handed over to the government of the time for use as a Mental hospital. In 1927 the hospital was opened by Dr. Willis, the hospital’s first Superintendent. The first patients arrived in 1928.

Fort Napier forms part of a group of 3 hospitals in the Midlands area providing mental health care services. Fort Napier is a Specialist Forensic Psychiatric institution providing Psyco-social rehabilitation to mental healthcare users who are admitted to the hospital. Fort Napier Hospital also forms part of an academic and service component. Doctors, psychologists and nurses, while on training, rotate between the three hospitals, Townhill, Umngeni and Fort Napier during their respective study programs.

Fort Napier Hospital provides a specialist forensic psychiatric service. The forensic block was opened in 1993 to facilitate the management of awaiting trial offenders. The Department of Justice, through the law courts, refers awaiting trial offenders to Fort Napier Hospital for observation and assessment of his/her mental state. This to determine whether he/she are fit to stand trial. Based on these specialist reports the courts can declare the offender as a state patient whereupon he/she will be admitted to Fort Napier Hospital.

Fort Napier Hospital has a multidisciplinary approach with the aim of discharging patients back to the community. To achieve this, the mental healthcare user, according to their ability, attends various programs organized and managed by the Occupational Therapy department. Mental healthcare users also attend programs managed by the psychology and social work departments.

 

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