Chronic alcoholic brain damage: trends in the use of services in North Canterbury

National published data, Sunnyside Hospital records and a survey of private institutions were used to ascertain trends over time in the use of services for alcohol-related brain damage in the Canterbury region. One hundred and forty-three individuals in long-term care in 1982 were identified, a rate of 42 per 100 000 population. The proportion of psychiatric hospital beds occupied by these patients rose from 3% in 1971 to 12% in 1981. The rate of first admissions remained stable during this period while readmissions rose sharply, then levelled off. Average length of stay and number of readmissions increased and average age of admissions dropped; however these differences were not statistically significant. The data, together with changes in hospital programmes and diagnostic practice over the same period, suggest that the rise in bed occupancy may reflect an extension of the hospital's services to a group not previously offered long-term care, particularly less disabled persons.