Tuesday, March 5, 196§

Ian Stewart has become Director of the Mental Health Clinic. Dr. Peter Irlam came

on staff at the Hillsborough Hospital after two years in post- raduate stud i - chiatry at Dalhousie University. g y n psy

. . In.the Division of Food Control, Dr. John Sterns resigned and took a similar pOSItlon 1n the ‘Provmce of Ontario. He was succeeded by Dr. James Higgins, who expressed a desu‘e to return to the Department of Health as of his profession.

In the Division of Laboratories we greatly regret the loss of Dr. Aquino. His services were valued most highly by the Department. Dr. Aquino was married to an American lady and they have moved near her old home in the United States. As Dr. Aquino gave an early indication that he might leave our service, we fortunately procured a replacement some months before his final resignation, in the person of Dr. Thomas Lees, a native of Scotland. However we regret the loss of this senior competent pathologist and there is an urgent need for a third pathologist on our

staff. We shall continue our efforts to try to procure another Doctor for this im- portant division.

In the Dental Division, Dr. Romcke returned from post-graduate studies and

resumed dental practice with the Department. A new dentist joined our staff early in the year and resigned in mid-summer.

A new and much needed addition to our senior staff is a pharmacist in the person of Mr. Warren Hood. I hope that Mr. Hood’s appointment will result in a number of vital changes in pharmacy in our department. I feel that drug control in the Division of Mental Health has been lax and I propose to make all necessary alterations to place this drug operation on a throroughly businesslike and professional basis. At the same time I propose to combine all pharmacy within my Department

under the direction of Mr. Hood, and I expect his services will also be extended in this field to the Department of Welfare..

In the Mental Health field we are, of course, asked to provide large amounts of drugs to in-patients as well as to 1,080 out-patients. The control of drugs when issued to out—patients poses a major problem. There may well be a waste of drugs and possibly misuse. Without considerable additional staff this may still remain a

problem, but we hope to take as many control measures as are practical with our limited, present staff.

The Diabetic Control Program continues to function well. There were 1,113 patients at the end of 1967 receiving free diabetic drugs and testing materials. 152 new cases occurred during the year. However, with this increase in patients we estimate we were able to effect savings of approximately $30,000 through economics effected by direct purchase of all diabetic drugs during the past year.

We have found it necessary during the past year to add some additional new staff, and to up-grade some of the nursing positions at Hillsborough Hospital, and also at the Riverside Home for Special Care. I would like to point out, however, that conditions have greatly changed in the demand for mental health treatment and for treatment for alcoholism. Admissions to hospital are six times that of ten years ago, and patient volume at the Mental Health Clinic has increased two and one-half times in this same period. Forty-five per cent of admissions are for alcoholism. There were fifty-eight admissions in 1957 for alcoholism and 354 admissions in 1967. I am afraid that the sale of liquor under our so called Liquor Control Commission is not all profit. Total hospital admissions at Hillsborough Hospital in 1967 was 823, an increase of 224 patients over 1966.

On the financial side I have a little brighter picture. We transferred 248 chronic and retarded patients to Riverside Home for Special Care, including those who are residing at the Sherwood Home. We have not had official approval on the last 79 to be so transferred from the Ottawa authorities, but as they are in the same general chronic care category as the former Special Care Patients, we anticipate no difficulty in having them accepted. I believe per day costs are now running at that institution at about ten dollars per day, and at this rate it will mean a saving of approximately $450,000 as half the per day cost is recoverable from Ottawa through The Canada Assistance Plan.

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