ALCOHOLISM IN AUSTRALIA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27427, 13 August 1954, Page 6

ALCOHOLISM IN AUSTRALIA

Hospital Treatment To Be Given MINISTER’S DECISION IN NEW SOUTH WALES [From the Sydney Correspondent of “The Press"} SYDNEY, July 23. New South Wales will be the first State in Australia to recognise alcoholism as a serious disease requiring public hospital treatment like any other sickness. Beds will be made available in appropriate hospitals in the next fortnight for chronic alcoholic cases. The announcement was made this week by the State Minister for Public Health, Mr M. O’Sullivan. “Medical men realise that the time has arrived when something must be done to help the alcoholic,” said Mr. O’Sullivan. “Instead of cases being sent to the Reception House or mental homes, because there is nowhere else in many instances for them to go, they will be admitted to some of our hospitals.” The first hospital to make beds available will be the Lidcombe State Hospital, Sydney. Space in other hospitals will be allotted as soon as possible. Some hospitals, however, had refused to accept alcoholic cases, and this had meant that these very sick persons were not given a fair chance to regain health; Mr O’Sullivan’s announcement followed a request for help made by a deputation from the Central Service Council of Alcoholics Anonymous, which for years has been urging hospital treatment for alcoholics as is done in America. The Inspector-General of Mental Hospitals, Dr. D. S. Fraser, praising the Government decision, said he had recommended to the Government that 60 beds be set aside for alcoholics in the new Ryde Hospital, Sydney. This hospital would have the most modern scientific research clinic in Australia and alcoholism could be thoroughly investigated. After treatment the patients would be handed over to Alcoholics Anonymous, which has a remarkable record of rescue work among drink addicts.