New Superintendent Of Sunnyside Takes Over

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30366, 15 February 1964, Page 15

New Superintendent Of Sunnyside Takes Over

Lack of training facilities for psychiatrists in New Zealand is “a big difficulty, one we’ve got to do something about,” according to Dr. T. E. Hall, the new medical superintendent' of the Sunnyside Hospital, who has just taken up his duties. “The Health Department’ is reasonably . generous with bursaries for young doctors to study psychiatry overseas, and, in fact;' we are beginning to see some returning with overseas experience,” Dr. Hall said. “But it would be desirable if a basic training in psychiatry could be given here. Having passed this course, our young psy-

chiatrists- could go overseas on a bursary for experience of a more specialised type.” Asked whether the training should be provided by a medical school or by the larger psychiatric hospitals, Dr. Hall said the task w.ould best be shared by both types of institution. Staffing On the question of staffing, Dr. Hall said: “Although in the last year or two the medical staffing position at this hospital has undoubtedly improved, it is still not up to that which I would like to see. But I am optimistic the improvement will continue, because staffing is improving throughout the Mental Health Division as a whole.” Dr. Hall was keen, he said, bn extending the hospital’s out-patient work, and this was “of course, in line with the present-day policy, of the division.” “But, speaking generally, I have not come With, fixed ideas for . major changes—l want to find out what goes on here before making any big decisions,” he added. Dr. Hall has been in New Zealand for about three years and a half. He came from England, where at the time of his recruitment by the Mental Health Division, he was on the staff of the Warley Hospital in Brentwood, Essex. He gained his diploma in psychiatric medicine at the Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge, in 1953. Before' starting the three-year course for the diploma, he was for four years in general practice in County Durham. He is a graduate of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School, London. From his arrival in New Zealand until coming to Sunnyside, Dr. Hall was a senior medical officer on the staff of the Porirua Hospital. His main duties for most of that time were, however, in the psychiatric department of the Wellington Hospital, with part-time in the Child Health Clinic of the Department of Health in Wellington. Dr. Hall is .married, with three children.