View report page

These were admitted to the following hospitals
Goodmayes 173
St.Clement's (observation ward) 19
Others 16

It will be noted that only 13 (6,2%) of these admissions were of persons aged 75
years or over, with a total of 36 for persons aged 65 and over. It is a tragedy causing
national concern that so many people suffering from the mental enfeeblement of old age have
to be admitted to mental hospitals because there is nowhere else for them to go. West Ham
does not appear to have suffered this experience to quite the same extent, possibly because
of the excellent service given by the senile confuslonal unit at Langthome Hospital.
It is also gratifying to record that of the 208 cases admitted to hospital through
the Council's service, 116 (55%) were voluntary patients. Of those initially admitted unde
emergency and observation Orders, 24- (12% subsequently consented to remain for voluntary
treatment and the question of certification did not arise. In addition, 101 West Ham
residents were admitted direct to Goodmayes Hospital as voluntary patients either through
the Psychiatric Clinics or by their private doctors. It can thus be seen that of the total
number of patients admitted to mental hospitals from West Ham, 78% (309) were voluntary
patients, yhioh shows that more and more people are realising the benefit of early treat-men
and the previous reluctance to enter a mental hospital is fast losing ground,
(ii) In the remaining 63 cases (25 males and 38 females) to which the Duly Authorise
Officers were called no statutory action was taken; but arrangements were made in co-opera
with the general practitioner for some of these patients to attend the psychiatric clinic f
investigation and treatment.
(c) Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913-1938.
Ascertainment. Twenty-five mental defectives (12 males and 13 females) were ascertain
during the year. Of these, 15 (5 males and 10 females) were reported by the Local
Education Authority (7 as being ineducable children and 8 as needing supervision] after
leaving school); 3 cases (all males) came from the Courts and 7 males and 3 fsraales)
from other sources.
Nineteen of these cases (7 males and 12 females) were placed under Statutory Supervision
and the remaining 6 (1 male and 5 females) admitted for institutional care.
In addition to the ascertained defectives, 4 other cases came to the notice of the
department. One was placed under friendly supervision and three were still under
investigation at the er.d of the year.
75