HOW URGENT the need is for more intensive re- search
into mental illness can be seen from some of Mr. Robinson's statistics. Close on half the total number of hospital beds in the country are occupied by mental patients : there are more schizophrenics than all the patients suffering from cancer, TB and polio added together. In addition, about a quarter (to take a very conservative estimate) of patients attending for treatment by their general practitioners are suffering from nervous disorders. The existing services are pathetically inadequate to deal with this problem : under-staffed, under-housed and under-paid. The total average amount spent each week per patient in a general hospital is a little over £18; the amount spent per patient in mental hospitals is under £6. And this is not (as is sometimes argued) simply a reflection of the fact that treat- ment of mental patients costs less. On the con- trary, the treatment theoretically should (so far as the two can be directly compared) cost more, because of their greater need for individual attention. 1 know the Ministry of Health is aware of this—indeed, they have sent round admirable exhibitions putting forward these facts. But publicity is not enough : funds are needed as well.
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