Board Control Of Mental Hospitals

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29718, 11 January 1962, Page 3

Board Control Of Mental Hospitals

(From Our Own Reporter)

WELLINGTON, January 10. It is part of the policy of the Department of Health, confirmed by the Government, to pass over control of mental institutions, as well as St. Helens maternity hospitals, to hospital boards. This was confirmed today by the secretary of the Health Department (Mr D. A. Hunn). The acceptance of this in principle was part of the recommendations made by the department to the Royal Commission on State Services. The control of the St. Helens hospitals in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch is likely to be in the hands of the local hospital boards to about five years. It is believed, however, that because of the difficulties involved, the transfer of the mental institutions will take much longer. The problem of transferring the St. Helens hospitals is simplified because the three hospital boards involved are large bodies, well qualified to accept the extra burden. But the department will not make the change until all major capital requirements at the three hospitals are completed. The St. Helens hospitals provide the only midwifery training in New Zealand. It is part of departmental policy to see that this will not be interfered with, that all facilities will continue to be provided, and that standards and techniques are retained at the highest level. The transfer to the local boards of mental institutions is far more complicated. There are many more of th« i and some are located in areas where there are very small boards. To add to the difficulties much rebuilding and redesigning is necessary in many of the mental hospitals.

“This is a fairly long-term matter,” said a Health Department official today. “Neither our community, nor the local boards themselves, may be ready for it yet. Nevertheless, it is part of our policy, and we are working towards that end. Central control will not be relinquished until we are assured that the standards of the institutions will not be lowered, and that the local bodies will not be over-burdened.”