PAGE 14, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9,1977, WHITBY FREE PRESS Hospital has lost its direction Godfrey calls on health ministry to give Whitby Psychiatric By Dr. Charles Godfrey, MPP During the past six months, there has been increasing concern on the part of members of the NDPs Caucus, with regard to the psychiatric facility in Whitby - The Whitby Psychiatric Hospital. This concern has been generated in part by personal communications from the families of patients and staff, and, from an ever increasing number of reports in the media which imply there is a breakdown in the ability of the hospital to handle prob- lems of discipline and in general management of patient welfare. Part of this was engendered by the realization that a number of suicides, larger than what could be expected as usual, were reported from the hospital. In addition, a series of fires towards the end of the year suggested further serious problems. The result of this concern was a visit by members of this caucus (Dr. J. Dutszka, Health Critic, Ms Gillian Sandeman and Dr. C. Godfrey) to the hospital. This took place on two occasions. On each occasion we were met with an openness on the part of the administra- tor, Mr. Sheehan, which generated confidence in our ability to see a true picture of the hospital. In addition, the staff was most co-operative and answered questions freely on all occasions. On one visit, special view was given to the children's out-patient unit. On the second visit a greater émphasis was placed on the examiniation of the physical facilities in- the hospital, patient programs and staffing. It is immediately obvious to the most cursory imspec- tion, that the physical plan of the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital is out-dated, run- down, and possibly dangerous to the residents of the building. Constructed as a cottage style hospital fifty years ago, the facility no longer can meet the require- inents ôt an active psychiatric centre. The quality of care of patients, particularly in a mental institution, is frequently dependent upon physical factors. Privacy, washroom facilities and recreational areas are major components in most programmes of psychiatric care. Noné ot these are present at Whitby. In addition, a section which is operating as a pre-discharge special treatment area is grossly inadequate in structure. The hospital has facilities for 540 beds. It is grossly understaffed from the stand- point of custodial care, and tragically understaffed from the standpoint of therapeu- tics. It is the custon that general areas which contain 34 to 40 patients are under the care of one male and one female health worker during the night hours. This con- stitutes a grave threat to the physical safety of those per- sonnel and represents a level of care which cannot be tolerated in an institution operated under the name of a psychiatric hospital. The staff of 13 medical doctors, of whom 4 are certified psychiatrists, has a heavy work load and cannot be expected to render any more than passing care to this number of patients. In addition, it is not possible to conduct effective admission type examiniations in order to ensure that the facility is being used in the proper manner. The catchment area for the Whitby Hospital includes Scarborough and North York, as well as the Durham and Victoria County area. It acts as the "end of the line" for all institutions in those areas, and in addition to this accepts patients on transfer from other 'psychiatric facilities. The policy of the administrator of the hospital is that the door is never closed - all patients who appear are admitted. While this working principle is laudable, it is simply unten- able without sufficient staff to conduct effective diagnos- tic procedures, and plan effective treatment regimens. The staff of the hospital notes there has been a siRnifi- cant change in the type of patients who are being seen. They are no longer the chronic institutionalized patient who minds hîs own business in a protective setting. They are younger, and more violent patients who act out their aggressions and anxieties. Frequently the target for this acting out is the staff. The changing age brackets and the nature of the patients are particularlv relevant in view of the lack of proper recreation facilities, and areas in which younger patients can participate in their rehabilita- tion. Definitive treatments such as electrocortical shock can- not be rendered in the institution because of the lack of an anaesthetist. It is necessary to take patients to Oshawa to have this done which means an all day trip out of the institution at con- siderable expense. The staff is doing their best to maintain a modern programme and have an open. door policy with many of their charges. This, of course, or Borrow money to save money. That "bargain buy" home won't stay at that price forever. Get it now with a lower cost V & G mort- gage. Money for heat saving insulation or for additional space in your home, get it where the terms are custom built to suit your purse and your convenience. Member Canada Deposit insurance Corporation WC7YJRM4 andGEY TRUST COMPANY SINCE 1889 KEITH LAWES 3DundaSsW. Whi*î' US-P24 m_____________1_______à _- M JJU4 % I L15.u-i a i Ji Ij TUESDAY,FEBRUARYl5th deserves a edal FLATi ON BUOKET Do you know anyone here in Ontario who-through selflessness, humanity and kindness without expect- ing anything in return-has made this a better province in which to live? That's the kind of person for whom the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship was established. Recipients are selected by an independent Advisory Council of Ontario citizens whose honorary chairman is the Lieutenant-Governor of the Province. Anyone may nominate a person for the Ontario Medal, and nomination forms are available by writing: Executive Secretary Advisory Council Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M7A lA1 Making a nomination is itself an act of appreci- ation for good citizenship. All nominations should be received by April 15, 1977. .Q1~TARIOJVIEDALFORGOODC1TIZENSUIL~ OVER 100 LOCATIONS IN ONTARIO-SEE YOUR PHONE BOOK FOR THE ONE NEAREST YOU. by Appointment 0 nly____ ch THAPAR DENTURE THERAPY CLINIC 163 Simcoe St. s. Oshawa 579-S752 Hours Mon-Sat. & Evenings TI-I 1 means there must be a higher ratio of staff than would be needed normally in a dormi- tory unit. The acute shortage of staff is well demonstrated in looking at the number of "accidents" or unusual events which have occurred. Instances of patients escaping from the hospital, setting fire to hospital buildings in succes- sion are witness to that shortage. It is simply not possible to give psychiatric help, counselling or rehabili- tation with present staffing levels. The Ministry of Health acknowledges that there has been some 10 suicides which have been "credited" to the Whitby Psychiatric over the past year. Whether this number is accurate or not (inasmuch as the patient may have been discharged from the institution and been at home at the time), must be considered. However, it is difficult to get a clear account- ing from the Ministry as to the details of the cases inas- much as an internal enquiry has been conducted by the Ministry, and in spite of commitments to a public enquiry, the results of this have not been published. Of even greatersignificance are the findings of the coroner's jury in the early part of January which considered the hanging death of one of the patients, that acute emergency care was "unbe- lievable" in the hospital. While acknowledging that there was a great deal of room for improvement in this area, the administrator of the hospital pointed. out the extreme difficulty in operating an adequate resuscitation unit in the multiple buildings Cont'd 1