HALF-WAY HOUSES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 167, 17 July 1922, Page 5

HALF-WAY HOUSES.

■ INCIPIENT MENTAL CASES. j DISCUSSED in' BEL-EHATES. j The need for providing half-wny i houses" for ti»«" treatment of incipient raentaL, e.enilc dementia, anil D.T. i-aso< wus stressed by delegates ti> the Hoepi- ! tal Boards Conference in Wellington. ■ and a motion to that effect was uarried. I Mr. \V. F. Whartou (North Canter bury) stated that it was felt that old ' people suffering , from senile dementia ! should not be placed in mental hospital.-. i Tliey should be pla<:ed in other institutions and thus avoid their families lieing ' placed under a sti.HTna. Mr. W. Wallace (Auckland I spoke in ! favour of the proposal. J)r. T. H. A. Valiritine (Inspector ( General of Hospitals) said ihat the in : stitution at Hannier was intended fur certain incipient mental case*. Orant* ;to hospital iboards to deal with D.T case* had been withdrawn by the Oov- ; erciment. as it was fell that these iiu-i\-i were the responsibility of the birards. i Dr. Valintine admitted the need for an i institution for cases of senile dementia. ; but whether the <k>verrHmMit should undertake the responsibility of nccom ■ them was another matter. I', ■ was not an opportune time n> ask tile , (lovernment to establish an institution • of the kind suggested, and be could not

hold out any hope of it being proceeded with just now. As times improved the propositi might commend itself to the department. Mr. H. .1. Otley (Canterbury) stated that it was impossible for hospital Imards to maintain such an institution. 'Hie (ioverriment could do the Work better than any hoard. Mr. -I. Rowe I And; hi mil :ilso emphasised the fact that snch an insiitu tion was and t-aid the cmi ference should affirm tlie principle. It was an absolute scandal that such i-n«c- - to be sent to menial liOftiitals. Dr. Falconer iDunedrnl could not -uv how the Mental Hospital-; Department could he expected to provide for each type of mental ca.se. Tt would Iμsary to establish half-wav houees in each centre. Mc would like to hear the p«ilicy of the -Mental Hospital Department stated. Dr. o \"alintine said that it was the duty ./f the hospital boards to look after aJI cases of sieknets. Though soimcase, were not as spectacular a s other.-. iieverthele,s« it wa« the duty of boards to provide accommodation. The (iovcrnment in its turn provided the statutory subsidy. Mr. (.'. .\r. Luke (Wellington ) thoug-ht that the question was ;i national one Tf it. were left to the Wards to deal with, he could fon*ee difficulties arisirvwith eaees from small districts. 'Pile confereiue affirmed the principle of estaiLLs+ini; half-way house*, a≤ suggested.