The effect of distance in determining hospital admission rates.

Abstract

This survey of the 1965 admissions to the Ballarat Mental Health Authority facilities demonstrates an apparently greater usage of in-patient facilities by that 25% of the population of western Victoria which lives within 50 miles of Ballarat. Further prospective studies are needed to determine the contribution of other factors, in particular true prevalences of morbidity, population mobility, socio-economic factors, community, and family and general practitioner attitudes.