title: Availability and utilisation of mental illness and mental handicap beds in New Zealand.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, Wellington School of Medicine, Wellington Hospital.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Malcolm
mesh_terms: D001509:Bed Occupancy; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000628:therapy*; D007902:Length of Stay; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D009520:New Zealand; D010343:Patient Admission