MORE HUMANE TREATMENT OR MENTAL PATIENTS

Chronicle (Levin), 17 November 1947, Page 5

MORE HUMANE TREATMENT OR MENTAL PATIENTS

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, Nov. 16. Ihe outline a new programme for ihe a Iniiinstration of New Zealand's inentii: iiospitals was given in an inter- . .c.v .y llon. Mi.-s Mabel Howard on n\. "ihe inain Lstimates eon Gti'o" a ; x \ . ;te:n of v2it,n()(i for the -Menial Iiospitals Departmeut and tiiere i- a.n additionad iHu.iiOt) in the Suppb a.entary Lstimates. Tite item of £2o,iH)() is> to 1 >e devoted fiitiif'y t.j comforts for patienls. >n»-ep- vj . hanpes are idanned in the v> u y '1 ailow aiiees and pocket tnoney toi p' tient.-, the jjrovision of hair-dri*s-.ng saloons for women patients, uiijiror ed furnishings, a departure irom ihe standardisation of institutionai eloihing and an extension of soeial woi'k and oceuput ional therapy. " What we are trying to do is to get a.vay ftom the closed institntion idea," '■xpla'iud .Miss Howard. ''The more v.e ea n persnado the patients that they io-e ieading norinal lives the better i't v. dl be toi- ihem. The dav wlien sutl'er- ' 'a.m .'"ntoj ili-ifjj'ders were pariahs Jo iie -hui awav beliind liigli walls are - > er, and il is the I/epartment 's endeavour to mahe patients f'ee] that thev are no ditferent i'rom suH'erers in otliei hospiials." ( Importfint changes in mental hospit'ii- nilmiiii-tiation were inclnded in an r.acndmeni to the Mental Defectives ■' hich was to liavo come down this - e - - i o i i , Miss Howard said. The Bill would i>e (ine of Ihe (irst dealt with in next se--ion. ''It will be our emleavour to bring the standard of our liospi'als no to the standard of our genco'al >■ wpitals, and this annlies nartieularlv

i" the 1 n-at nient oi' recent and recover aldi* ea-es, " said the Minister. ' ' A oropi amnie is prepured and plans are ;ii conrse oi' eonipletion 'for speeia! " eatnient hosjiitals at eaeh of tiie majn centres, and later in the smaller een ti'i-s. These will incorporate aU the facilities for ihe most modern psvehia t:i-' t reatruent. Meanwhile we are do"."4 all we rau to improve the condiLons oi' the existing ho.spitals. " '