MENTAL HOSPITALS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 7, 8 July 1938, Page 4

MENTAL HOSPITALS

WORK OF DEPARTMENT

PROBLEMS AT PORIRUA

In his report for the year ended December 31, 1937, which was tabled in the House of Representatives today, the Director-General of Mental Hospitals (Dr.^T. G. Gray) states that there were 8234 names of persons on the registers at the end of the .year, including 46 patients and boarders at Ashburn Hall, which is the only licensed institution in the Dominion, and 638 patients and boarders who were on probation in the care of friends and relatives. In actual residence in State hospitals there were 7552 persons, an increase of 13 over the previous year, ■ and of this number 7242 were the sub- i ject of reception orders, while 310 were voluntary boarders. There was a decrease of 22 in the number of patients and boarders admitted for the\ first time, the relative figures being 1123 for the year under review and 1145 for the previous year, and .304 former inmates- returned to the hospitals. SATISFACTORY PERCENTAGE. "We were able to discharge 875 patients and boarders, or 61.32 per cent, calculated upon the admissions, but notmore than 502, or 35.18 per cent., could be regarded as recovered," states Dr. Gray. "Having regard to the large number of those admitted whose mental disorder is due to congenital causes, to the degenerative changes of old age, and to incurable organic disease of the nervous system, the percentage of discharges must be regarded as satisfactory." • During the year a large programme was carried out with a view to entirely wiping out the deficiency of accommodation at an early date. Dr. Gray states that there are many, problems to solve at Porirua, and theseare mainly dependent upon each other. A considerable step was achieved towards their solution by the completion of the new store, and a further stage will be reached when the boilerhouse and workshops block, now being erected, are completed. The next work in the large programme at Porirua will be the rebuilding of -the front block to provide adequate visiting rooms, administrative offices, and possibly staff dining-rooms.' ••■■--" A NEW INSTITUTION. Towards the end of the year, a property was acquired in the Marton area for the purpose of establishing a new mental hospital •>which .will serve the needs of the northern, part of the Wellington Province and Taranaki arid so relieve the pressurel upon the accommodation at Parirua. The estate is about 541 acres in extent, is we,ll watered, has a good northern aspect, and is generally well adapted,to the, erection of a new institution on the villa system. It is situated about micU way between: Bulls and Marton and is sufficiently secluded but has a gobd access to the main'north roa vd tp Taranakii •■ • • -;. •'■ ■' •■• .-- -• ■*■ -I