Availability and utilisation of mental illness and mental handicap beds in New Zealand

Using data from a variety of sources the availability and utilisation of beds for the treatment of the mental illness and mental handicap for hospital board populations have been determined. There is a wide variation in bed availability between such populations and this is significantly correlated w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNew Zealand medical journal Vol. 100; no. 827; p. 415
Main Author Malcolm, L A
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New Zealand 08.07.1987
Subjects
Bed Occupancy
Hospital Bed Capacity
Hospitals - supply & distribution
Hospitals - utilization
Hospitals, Psychiatric - utilization
Humans
Intellectual Disability - therapy
Length of Stay
Mental Disorders - therapy
New Zealand
Patient Admission
New Zealand
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Summary:Using data from a variety of sources the availability and utilisation of beds for the treatment of the mental illness and mental handicap for hospital board populations have been determined. There is a wide variation in bed availability between such populations and this is significantly correlated with utilisation variables such as rates of first and total admissions, bed days and length of stay. There is little evidence of underprovision in low availability areas. On the other hand provision above the average is associated with both population-based overfunding and the possibility of serious detrimental effects due to institutionalisation. Excess beds may therefore lead to both expensive and poorer quality care. Guideline figures for New Zealand are suggested which are well below current provision.
ISSN:0028-8446