Hart, Benjamin D

Born Roxburgh, Otago 1898                   Died Wellington 29 Apr 1972

Soon after graduating, he joined the Mental Hospitals Department, and had spells working at Waitati, Christchurch, Auckland, Hokitika and Nelson.

Deputy Superintendent, Auckland Mental Hospital 1928

Superintendent, Hokitika Mental Hospital 1931

Superintendent, Nelson Mental Hospital 1932

Acting Medical Superintendent, Auckland Mental Hospital 1935

Medical Superintendent, Porirua Hospital 1935 - 12/1963

In 1936, he worked with the Wellington Hospital Board to establish psychiatric wards in general hospitals. Two small wards were established at Wellington Hospital, one for female and one for male psychiatric patients.

These wards were staffed by medical officers from Porirua Hospital.

He took study leave in 1939, visiting the Tavistock Clinic in London, and the Burden Neurological Institute in Bristol.

On his return to NZ, he introduced ECT for the treatment of mental disorders, and EEG for the investigation of brain dysfunction.

photograph courtesy Dominion Post collection, Alexander Turnbull Library

Obituary: NZMJ 1972  75:383