MENTAL PATIENTS

Evening Star, Issue 19001, 24 July 1925, Page 2

MENTAL PATIENTS

ROOMS FOR EXAMINATION HEALTH DEPARTMENT INNOVATION. The Acting-Director-General of Public Health (Hr M. H. Watt) advised the meeting of the Hospital Board last night that Cabinet had approved of the expenditure of £2,000 for the purpose of providing grants of £SOO each to the four centres for the purpose of providing at least two—preferably three —properly-furnished bedrooms for mental patients awaiting medical examination, in order to decide whether or not they should be committed to a mental hospital. The letter further stated that the proposal was to give the board a fair start in the matter, and to ensure the provision of a suitable room to be used instead of prison cells for the accommodation of the insane or those morely alleged to be of unsound mind. Sir Truby King would, no doubt, approach the board on the matter. It was understood his scheme was: 1. Out-patients’ clinics for nervous and mental patients to be conducted weekly at the general hospitals by medical officers of the general and mental hospital staffs. 2. To shield persons alleged to be Buffering from mental disabilities from the humiliation and distress of being cast into prison pending a decision. “ Very generous, indeed,’ 1 commented one member. “It is a start, anyhow,” said another. The letter was referred to the Hospital Committee.