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PERSONAL HEALTH
It was thought desirable for a social history to be provided by a mental
welfare officer on a patient attending an out-patient clinic for the first time,
and up to 31st March six social histories were supplied on request. In
addition three social reports were supplied to Friern and Claybury Hospitals
on new admissions.
The demand for psycho-geriatric admissions for elderly confused patients
remains high in Enfield; domiciliary support is provided by the consultant
psycho-geriatricians from the local catchment hospitals, and social work
support is provided by the Council's mental welfare officers both before
admission and after discharge.
Hospital Admissions
Every effort is made to arrange for admissions of patients to psychiatric
hospitals informally and 37 were so admitted. In addition, 38 were
compulsorily removed to hospital by mental welfare officers under Part IV
of the Mental Health Act 1959.
Day Rehabilitation
Centres
The day centre organised by the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
continued at premises in Tottenham, in the London Borough of Haringey.
Two Enfield residents commenced attendance during the first three months
of the year and six were in attendance at the end of the period, the cost
being borne by the Council.
Social Centres
or Clubs
Mental welfare officers supervised the running of clubs which were held every
Monday from 7.30 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. at the Junior Training School,
Waverley Road, Enfield, and at the Health Centre, Forest Road, Edmonton.
The weekly attendances at both clubs were between 25 and 50 persons.
Residential
Accommodation
The "Windsmill" Recuperative Hostel has places for 26 persons, men and
women. The residents are normally referred from psychiatric hospitals and
are usually expected to be capable of working. They are encouraged to
resume their places in society with increased confidence. During the first
three months of the year there were two admissions. One person ceased to
reside at the hostel on re-admission to hospital.
The Council continued to accept financial responsibility for the care and
maintenance of Enfield patients considered to be unsuitable for acceptance
in the Council's own hostel, in Mental After Care Hostels administered by
voluntary associations such as the Richmond Fellowship, the S.O.S. Society
and the Mental After Care Association. At the end of March there were ten
patients maintained in voluntary hostels. (See Tables 24 and 25).
Mental Subnormality
The borough is within the catchment area of South Ockenden and Harperbury
Hospitals, to which patients requiring hospital care for mental subnormality
are admitted.
Domiciliary Service
The number of subnormal persons in community care at 31st March, 1971,
was 320. The mental welfare officers paid 234 visits, and sixteen office
interviews were carried out during the first three months of the year.
The Council's adviser in subnormality, Dr. W. Livingston, continued to hold
out-patient clinics at the offices of the Health Department for the purpose of
assessment and review of mentally subnormal patients in the community.
Cases were presented by mental welfare officers in circumstances where
where specialist medical advice was required. During the period two
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