Admissions to a provincial psychiatric hospital: the effects of opening a second in-patient facility

Until 1955, the Saskatchewan Hospital, North Battleford, was the only facility designated for in-patient psychiatric treatment of the northern half of Saskatchewan's population. In that year the University Hospital's 39-bed psychiatric unit was opened in Saskatoon, but the number of Saskatoon patients referred to North Battleford have continued to increase.A statistical study of changes in the annual admission rates (patients/1000 population) to the Saskatchewan Hospital shows that the opening of the University Hospital unit has reduced the rate of intake of Saskatoon residents to the Saskatchewan Hospital. This decrease is related to specific diagnostic groups. There have also been changes in methods of referral.