Mental Health Services at Wellington Hospital in Poor Shape

In order to manage the overcrowding of mentally ill patients at Wellington Hospital’s troubled ward, health officials are silently transferring acute mental patients to the so-called community acute house in the suburban area. One such suburban house opened recently in Whitby and two other similar houses would be opened shortly. The patient’s admitted to the ward suffer form a variety of mental health conditions such as depression. Although the ward capacity is not more than 30 as much as 50 patients are attended to, according to the health officials.

The 24- hour clinic would be attended by two nursing staff involved in day care and one health care professional during the night. The care house has the capacity to accommodate a maximum of two patients.

The fact that all is being is done under secrecy has raised controversies from the local residents. The health care providers have even been instructed to park their vehicles in different regions to avoid any suspicion.

Some residents were informed that the place was being used for conducting medical seminars. The health authorities, in response have stated that they want to avoid any kind of media interference and ensure the privacy of the patient.

Instances of patients walking out of the ward in an attempt to kill their self have probably triggered such a move. In fact, two patients have already committed suicide. Chad Buckle, a patient of ward 27 walked away form the ward and killed himself in July 2003. Yet another patient is said to have jumped into the tiger enclosure at a nearby zoo in February 2003.

The two proposed care centers are likely to open by the beginning of next year, the locations of which has not been disclosed so far.

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With this being the situation, let’s hope that the shifted patients would receive better medical attention than that offered in ward 27.