Shortage Of Psychiatrists

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30768, 4 June 1965, Page 3

Shortage Of Psychiatrists

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 3. Advertisements in English and Australian newspapers since Easter for psychiatric staff to fill vacancies in New Zealand mental hospitals had so far caused 45 inquiries to be made by medical practitioners, the Minister of Health (Mr McKay) told Parliament today. He said arrangements had been made for suitable applicants to be interviewed by the director of the Division of Mental Health. Mr McKay had been asked by Mrs E. E. McMillan (Opp., Dunedin North) if he could indicate what measures had been taken to remedy staff shortages in mental hospitals. Mrs McMillan referred Mr McKay to a recent press report that mental hospitals in New Zealand had only 71 doctors on staff —of whom only 51 were full-time. The report said that, according to World Health Organisation standards, there should be 102. Mr McKay replied that at the end of 1964 a notice of vacancies in the Health Department was circulated to all doctors in New Zealand. In some areas, general practitioners had been recruited

on a part-time basis to work in mental hospitals.

Mr N. J. King (Opp., Waitemata) asked Mr McKay if he would review employment conditions to encourage doctors to specialise in mental health and accept positions in psychiatric hospitals. Mr McKay: The position is

being reviewed at the present time.

Mr W. W. Freer (Opp., Mt. Albert) asked how many general practitioners had accepted part-time positions in mental hospitals. Mr McKay: I can’t answer that at the moment, but 1 will get you the figures.