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‘Dissolution of the Mental Hospital’: Fifteen Years On

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Donal F. Early  and
Michael Nicholas
Donal F. Early
Affiliation:
Glenside Hospital, Stapleton, Bristol
Michael Nicholas
Affiliation:
Glenside Hospital, Stapleton, Bristol
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Summary

The pattern of decline of a mental hospital population over fifteen years is described. Continuing problems are commented on, particularly the presence of ‘old’ long-stay patients and the accumulation of ‘new chronic patients'. The number of beds required for each of these categories is estimated.

The dissolution of the mental hospital service by degradation is deplored, and a suggestion is made that some of the good points of the old service might be salvaged before it is too late.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 130 , Issue 2 , February 1977 , pp. 117 - 122
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists 1977 

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