OVERCROWDED

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 6 August 1928, Page 12

OVERCROWDED

DOMINION’S MENTAL HOSPITALS. VERY SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES. Serious overcrowding of mental hospitals in New Zealand necessitates provision of extra, accommodation at six of the seven institutions. Dealing with tin's question in the annual report tabled in the House of Representatives, Dr. T. G. Gray, Inspector-General of .Mental Hospitals, states that it is liis duty to request a. considerable increase in the annual financial provisions, not ionly to allow development of the new Auckland institution, but to mitigate in some degree very serious difficulties resulting from lack of proper aocom.modation lor patients. The overcrowding, he says, is not a matter of sudden growth, but a slowing down o: building operations during the war. and its financial aftermath has rendered the position, present and prospective, very acute. Shortage* of space affects all the institutions, but particularly Porirua, with an excess of .256 patients, Auckland with .an excess of 117, Christchurch with 133, Seaclilf© with 174, and Nelson with S'). Hokitika, with a decreasing population, has an excess of inly six. which can be overcome, without expense, but at Tolcanui, with 54 above normal, new buildings are required. POSITION EXTREME!A' SERIOUS. The extreme seriousness of the position is seen from the fact that the Department lias 820 patients in excess of the accommodation. The estimated annua, 1 increase is over 200 patients, so that at a. conservative estimate by the end of 1928 the deficiency will! exceed 1000, or equivalent of a large institution. In the absence of a definite building ■programme, which must be spread over many years, the position can only l>ecome worse. At Auckland, for instance, the prorent population cf the mental hospital is about. 1163. but at a conservative ■estimate it will! be 1400 or more :n ten yearns’ time. No mental hospital should: accommodate .more than 1000 patients, says the Inspector-General, but if 1250 were allowed the institution there would A ill be an excess of 150. SITE IN THE NORTH. Cons i derail ion , should, therefore, ho given to the purchase of a ifrite .n the North Auckland dishnict. There is practical I v no *room left at Porirua- for additional buildings, and the foundation of a new institution in Mono wit i; district is necessary. Some temporary relief in ay lie given at Seaoliff bv the erection of one or two isnnaiMi vibus at W4ili.ta.ti, bu t. little room, .is. avail able, and the, establishment of an institution elsewhere must be considered. The total mum bar of patients under care fast year was 0412, adm is*i- >■•!- iiumbariiiicr 945, or two less than in tut previous vear. The proportion 0! 10udmisri.on was 17.25, patients admitted for the first time numbering 7i-2. .The ratio to population of all admission*, exclusive of Maoris, was 6.74 to I**.ooo (males 7.42 females 6.03). and .-4 f.vst admission,si 5.58 (males 6.17. females 4.96), so that 1482 persons' : i* the general population.contributed one patient, and every 1792 contributed 011 c first admission patient. Discharges teinibd 3f)o, or seven more than in 1926. There were 197 voluntary admissions.