Mental Institutions.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1921, Page 1

Mental Institutions.

urn.mxos and staff. ‘•\\A' are mi tin 1 eve of a ri'lortn tile uciessity for which I have often »ji awn ;<ttt-ntinn namely. tin' segregation of til,;, idiot mi,| imbecile children in some institution apart I rout a ini'iitnl 1 1< >sp itul for adults.” st.all’s tin* 1 nspfttor-(ten,-ml of Mental l lospitals in liis annual report to tin* .Ministnr of Public 11,.aUli. "This has boon rendered possi|j!u h v your agreement with all arrangement made with thr l'.dination |),-partuii'ilt. to tala- over tin' institution at Stoke, ill'llr Nelson and incorporate it with the Nelson Mental Hospital. I am looking forward before tinend of tile year to removing practiiallv all the patients under Id years of age to Nelson and so providing, incidentally for tl*-' patients (males fit; females -lei) at the institutions fe uliieh the children vrill bo transfer hv the Education Department. Mean while a male admission block is non-r----ing completion at Tokauui; a threestory extension of Dark House. Auckland is piogressing favourable; n unit for women at Waitati is well advanced and a very excellent- little reception house for patients of both sexes is nearing completion at Nelson. Synchronously with these additions, some „f the old buildings nt Seaclifl have been pulled down, and a like latx awaits the main institution at Hokitika lit was under consideration to abandon this institution when trains ran through the tunnel; hut it will fie a decidedly more economical arrangement to rebuild on the present site, replacing the present worn-out buildings in order of urgency. The

scheme is now in hand. Certain buildings are also in progress which will not nll'cct the dormitory accominodntioii. such as the large extension of two id the day rooms at Snnuyside, the addition of a nurses’ dining room at See dift, and other similar extensions are projected to improve the amenities h - the patients and stalf. "The staff has reached its normal ratio, and there are long waiting-lists for possible vacancies. Thus, after a long time, we have arrived at i stage where we can make a selection. The present probation period of one year should he extended to three to enable the Department to retain as senior attendants and nurses those only who are temperamentally fitted for the work and give promise of capacity to fill higher offices in the future. On the whole, the work of the nursing staff hn.s been satisfactory ” -