Dr Digby Moynagh (1911–1963) and the Graylands Day Hospital, 1959

Dr Digby Moynagh (1911–1963) and the Graylands Day Hospital, 1959–1965

Published:2017-07-10 Issue:5 Volume:25 Page:501-503
ISSN:1039-8562
Container-title:Australasian Psychiatry
language:en
Short-container-title:Australas Psychiatry

Author:

Martyr Philippa¹

Affiliation:

1. Clinical Research Centre, NMHS MH, WA, Australia, and; Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, School of Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, University of Western Australia, Mount Claremont, WA, Australia

Abstract

Objective: To describe the establishment of Australia’s first psychiatric day hospital in Western Australia in April 1959 by Dr Digby Moynagh (1911–1963). Methods: A range of primary and secondary sources were consulted. Results: Moynagh was able to establish the Graylands Day Hospital because he had an outsider’s perspective, and was familiar with the day hospital model from UK psychiatric literature. However, he was opposed by local medical and political interests, which eventually led to his departure from the State. Conclusions: The Graylands Day Hospital and Digby Moynagh both contributed towards the process of psychiatric deinstitutionalisation in Australia.

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Psychiatry and Mental health

Link

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1039856217715993

Reference13 articles.

1. Undersecretary to Minister for Health, 28 July 1961. Mental Hospitals – Claremont Mental Hospital – reports of visits of inspection by Inspector General under section 86-87 Lunacy Act, AN 200/3, acc 1374, item 1941/45, 28 July 1961. State Records Office of Western Australia.

2. FIRE-WALKING EXPERIMENTS: REPORT ON KUDA BUX'S DEMONSTRATION

3. Ellis A. Eloquent Testimony: the story of the mental health services in Western Australia. Crawley: UWA Press, 1984, p.121.