Patient-care suicide link
PA Wellington Psychiatrists at Wellington Hospital are worried that people may commit suicide after being discharged because there are not enough staff for followup care. The head of the hospital’s department of psychological medicine, Professor Graham Mellsop, said that
it was just a “clinical impression” at this stage but patient difficulties after discharge from hospital “may be contributing to an excessive suicide rate some months after discharge. This may be happening here.” Although the problem had not yet been adequately researched, staff had started a study, he said.
The “frenetically active” 30-bed psychiatric unit at Wellington Hospital had about half the number of psychiatrists it should have. The Wellington region had the equivalent of 16 fulltime psychiatrists but according to established overseas standards should have 25 to 30, Professor Mellsop said.
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Bibliographic details
Press, 7 August 1985, Page 28
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134Patient-care suicide link Press, 7 August 1985, Page 28
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