Mental Health Services
Sir, —Further indication of the state of our mental health services is the fact (reported yesterday) that one medical officer has to perform the duties of superintendent of both Sunnyside Hospital (1000 beds) and Templeton <559 patients). The ideal maximum size of a psychiatric hospital is 350 beds. It is time the Mental Hygiene Division attracted an overseas expert in mental deficiency for Templeton. Medical and university authorities and others in Christchurch should consider the setting up of a post-graduate school in psychiatric medicine at Christchurch where there are two mental institutions and general hospitals in close vicinity. Such a school could give post-graduate training to New Zealand psychiatrists, could train psychiatric social workers, who are needed desperately throughout the country, and offer post-graduate training to psychiatric nurses.—Yours, etc., DOUGLAS C. McKECHNIE. January 18, 1960.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29108, 21 January 1960, Page 3
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138Mental Health Services Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29108, 21 January 1960, Page 3
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