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both statutory and voluntary sources. There is not, however, enough staff available from
all sources to deal with these numbers intensively, and a major problem remains the selection
of cases where true prevention can be hoped for and the deployment of staff to achieve this.
DIVISION 9, comprising the boroughs of Wandsworth and Battersea
Dr. J. T. R. Lewis reports:
Maternity and child welfare—Tint to continued higher attendance an extra weekly infant
welfare session was introduced in St. Margaret's welfare centre and the staff augmented
at St. Christopher's; a mothercraft class was started at the William Harvey centre.
Handicapped children—The Roehampton child guidance unit, located at the William
Harvey centre, was transferred to improved ground floor accommodation.
Chiropody—To meet the increased demand for treatment amongst the elderly, five extra
sessions weekly were introduced.
Smoking advisory clinic—An advisory clinic of an experimental nature with fortnightly
evening sessions was started in conjunction with division 1 at Fulham chest clinic.
Mental health service—Community care services have continued to develop in many
aspects. The establishment by the St. George's and West Park hospitals and the Council
of a psychiatric day hospital centre for 50 patients was a valuable addition to the community
services available for the mentally ill living in the division. It is held in accommodation at
St. George's hospital, Tooting. The consultant and other medical and nursing staff is a
responsibility of the two hospitals, while the Council accepts responsibility for the
occupational therapy and social worker staff. This venture is an example of the tripartite
co-operation of associated authorities in an integrated effort to provide service to the
community. The Tooting psychotherapeutic evening social club conducted by the Council's
officers was moved to the new day hospital centre premises.
A special mothercraft class was started at Putney Health Centre for mothers of mentally
sub-normal children of pre-school age. Talks and the discussion of mutual problems
provide that degree of extra support needed as parents have to face the fact that a child
may have to attend a training centre instead of a school. This group method uses staff
more economically than visiting, which is generally most intensive when the child is
between four and five years of age.
At the Clapham training centre the industrial unit for males completed a year's trading.
Articles were manufactured to specification and sold, the trainees receiving ex-gratia
payments.
Of special note is the Chellow Dene residential hostel, which offers accommodation
to selected patients to enable them to rehabilitate themselves in employment and in the
community after recovery from mental illness. A full year's experience confirmed the value
of careful selection of residents, in their own interests and that of other residents. Admission
is on a trial basis of one month, during which time the resident is expected to seek employment.
Chellow Dene is basically a short term hostel for periods of up to six months, but
it was found that some residents could not achieve sufficient stability to enable them to live
in the community within that time. Five residents stayed between nine and twelve months.
These were exceptional cases, however; a proper turnover is essential if the hostel is to be
properly utilised and its facilities offered to as many as possible. In the first 12 months
37 residents left the hostel. The great majority were in work and either went home or to
private lodgings or to residential posts. Five needed to return to hospital. There was a
need to make reasonable minimal rules for the government of the hostel and the conduct
of the residents.
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