MENTAL DISEASES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20339, 21 August 1929, Page 13

MENTAL DISEASES.

[CASES FOR OBSERVATION*

SPECIAL WARDS PROPOSED.

HOSPITAL BOARD'S ATTITUDE.

A proposal by tho.Hon. A. J. Stallworthy, Minister of Health, that consideration should bo given to the establishment of observation wards for mental diseases was discussed at a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board yesterday.

Tho Minister stated in a letter that an attempt was being made to carry out such a scheme in Wellington. It was highly desirable that opportunity should bo given for the observation of patients who did not need to be committed immediately to a mental hospital. Tho chairman, Mr. W. Wallace, said he had discussed tho proposal with tho chairmen of tho Wellington and Canterbury hospital boards, and they regarded it with great suspicion. Ho agreed the idea was a good one and that it was highly desirable that such observation wards should be established. " However, I think it is only another attempt to put the Stafo's responsibility upon local bodies," Mr. Wallace said, "I do not know* what aro the Minister's ideas or whether he intends to finance tho scheme." To carry out the scheme a specially-trained staff would be needed as well as medical men and nurses. As far as tho board was concerned the whole question was one of finance. If it was an attempt to place more expense on local bodies the board should resist it in every possible way. A certain clinic had beon opened at tho hospital some time ago at the instigation of tho department, which, however, later placed the whole burden on the board.

Mr. E. H. Potter said such wards •would mean that additional space would he required and objection had already been made to tho increasing size of tho hospital. Dr. E. B. Gunson said ho had discussed the question with Dr. Prins, a former superintendent' at tho Auckland Mental Hospital, and he had expresesd the opinion that such observation wards would be of:great value to the community as well as to the department. Tho scheme would no doubt dovelop into an extensive undertaking and the department should be made awaro of the services it would receive.

Mr. Wallace said he did not want it to be thought ho was opposing the scheme. " However, a hospital board's duty is to care for diseases of the body and not those of tho mind," ho said. '* If these wards aro established there will bo all sorts of pressure brought to bear to get these peoplo into tho hospital to escapo the so-called stigma of going to tho mental hospital. Ido not consider there is any more stigma in going to tho mental hospital than in going to tho general hospital." Tho question was referred to tho Finance Committee for consideration.