HOKITIKA MENTAL HOSPITAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 September 1924, Page 4

HOKITIKA MENTAL HOSPITAL.

TIIO animal report on the .Mental Hospitals of the Dominion contains the following references: |)r. frank Huy reports; Visited in .March, November, and December. At the hist visit one could judge tliat tiie admission und hosI ita! wards and the tr.ltninistriitir.n block would lie ready for occupation in three or four months. They tire, well designed for their pnrpc.se. and have been plated under Sister Knifes. The hospital staff removed the building.* neighbouring )he cite. scrapping those of n j further use and utilisin'..' goad material for a small isolation hospital. Tenders have liccu called for a “closed' v ilia, which will empty that part of the old buildings which have I ceil the subject of permit! : ng of their I,cilia removed. Dr Tiuchanan's residence is just in the site where a villa is wanted lor wcmeii patients. We have now prngressc.l Mdlieientlv to Imild a icsideme for the Medical Superintendent. ami wle'ii he has moved into it. to adapt his present one for a villa for women. The new buildings are lighted l.y electricity. Dm drainage lots been led to the sea, and roads have been made, in aiitirjpatian of the chancy*. I found the patients well clothed anti well led. and those able to appreciate the improvements expressed thorn-elves as contented. It must he a satisfaction to Dr Buchanan to hi id his energy bearin'.' fruit. Dr. Buchanan repot Is:

The number of patients on the register at the beginning of the year was 0.12. At the end of the year there remained -lid. made tin of lil male* and females. There were 10 admissions. Itfdis: barges. and Id deaths. 'I he oemra.l heallf.t of the patients has Keen Sin emv j:isi tel oi l l.ove Urns, have keen building the male rcceptian wing i f i In- admission hloek and a cent ml administration block. The female w me: built hy ourselves, has keen completed lor same months now with the excep:i< II of the pluml.imr. I hnj c to have I,.th win:.'* in working order by the cii.l of .I line. l!kM. An old building which stood on the ..itc of the above liar been rcmovid. >vnovaleh and set up as a .stiiall level ho*; ital. The large recreation-ground has been c; Mplctcd. This will be of immense l.emlil to the 1 atit'lll«. The appointment of a sister, who has <1 uali'it'd in lioth metit.d ami general training, to take charge of the new 1,1 -k is a mi *t impo.taiit innovation. The training of the nurses will naturally l.e more i oini rehei'sive. and the nc i sine <.f the sick and new admission* will lie centralised. 'I hi* eanliel out l,e of immense Ism lit to till concerned. I must again express my tijipret i:iliiiii <il the loyal manner in which my stall’ has co-operated with me during tlii. dilliculi peried of ro uio lno t cm.