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After- and Community-care
Special arrangements were made with the Local Authority regarding the
after- and community-care of the patients. One Mental Welfare Officer was
allocated for each of the two postal districts. These two officers were
informed of admissions as they arose from the area. They visited the
patients and their relatives soon after admission, kept in touch with
them throughout their stay and followed them up afterwards. They attended
the hospital weekly to receive referrals and to report on the progress of
patients under their community care.
During the year, 33 patients resident in the postal district of E. 3.
were referred to the Mental Welfare Officer; of these 9 required readmission
during the same year. 54 patients were referred from the postal
district of E. 14 and 10 required readmission.
In addition to the provision of this community care a Day Centre in
Burdett Road provided by the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association accepted
patients during the latter part of their stay in hospital. They attended
daily while still resident in St. Clement's Hospital, and continued to do
so after their return home. This was of great assistance in their
rehabilitation and return to the community.
The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association provided a weekly club at
Poplar House,catering both for in and out-patients attending St. Clement's
Hospital.
Emergency Service.
Prom 1st April, 1965, St. Clement's Hospital undertook to provide an
emergency service for psychiatric patients for the London Borough of
Tower Hamlets after the hours of 5 p.m. on weekdays and on Saturdays and
Sundays. During this period all emergency calls were relayed to the Duty
Doctor at St. Clement's Hospital who would deal with these calls by
either advising or arranging for out-patients or domiciliary examination
of the patient, and providing emergency treatment either on a domiciliary
or in-patient basis. A Mental Welfare Officer was available in case
Compulsory Orders under the Mental Health Act were needed.
In addition, emergency referrals from General Practitioners were
accepted at all times. The availability of emergency services in the
London Borough of Tower Hamlets led to a reduction of emergencies from an
average of 12 per month to 4 per month within three months of the
inception of the emergency service. Patients admitted under Section 25
and 29 of the Mental Health Act numbered 23 and 44 respectively.
Admission Policy.
With the provision of community services for the catchment area of
St. Clement's Hospital only one-fifth of the number of beds available
was required for the admission of patients. During the year 1,195 patients
were admitted, 531 being from Tower Hamlets.
43.