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Eltham Nursery
This nursery was established by the Woolwich and Greenwich
Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and received grants
from the former London County Council to cover a substantial
portion of the running costs. This policy has been continued by
the new Authority.
Contact with the nursery is maintained by the mental health
officer for the Eltham area who visits it two or three times a month
and also attends the medical examinations at present undertaken by
a Medical Officer on the department's staff. Admissions are
regulated by the Medical Officer and every effort is made to
transfer nursery children to the Maze Hill Training Centre when
they reach years of age. Of the places at the nursery, this
Council has assumed responsibility for 10, the Borough of Bexley
for 3 and the London Borough of Lewisham for 2. The Deputy
Principal Mental Health Officer serves on the Nursery Committee
and also attends the Society's general meetings.
In the past, the Society has provided amenities such as record
players for the department's centres and always makes generous
contributions towards Christmas parties of the junior and senior
centres. Such kind interest is greatly appreciated.
Darenth Park and Goldie Leigh Hospitals
Both formal and informal links have been established by the
department with these two important hospitals and consultation
and exchange of information is much closer since 1st April of
the current year. Undoubtedly, however, there is a great deficiency
of beds in the area for mentally subnormal children but, due to
improvements and expansion in the local community care services,
a freer exchange of patients will be possible in the future and
perhaps larger numbers of these children will be able eventually
to be accepted into the community. The hospital authorities realise
that there are patients who by the nature and severity of their
disabilities must be admitted to or remain in hospital care.
Boarding Out
A few adult subnormals are boarded out with local landladies
and where the patient is unable to earn sufficient for his keep or
where statutory benefits fall short of need, facilities exist for the
Council to subvent.
Long and short term care schemes are successfully introduced
and advantage is taken of hospital facilities, approved voluntary
homes and of private accommodation supervised by the Brighton
Guardianship Society. Financial responsibility is assumed by the
Council and no charge accrues to the parents but the Council's
assessment scale is applied to adults entitled to National Assistance.