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174
needs it should be our earnest endeavour to see that our services
are not found wanting.
Mental Health Officers
In respect of persons suffering from mental disorder and where
the appropriate relatives are unwilling or unable to make application
for the admission of such persons into hospital or into
guardianship then, in accordance with the provisions of the Mental
Health Act, 1959, the Mental Health Officer (statutorily entitled
Mental Welfare Officer) is required so to do. Before undertaking
this procedure, which he does entirely on his own responsibility,
the mental welfare officer must satisfy himself not only that such
an application ought to be made but that, having due regard to
the wishes of relatives and taking other relevant circumstances into
account, it is necessary or proper for the application to be made
by him. It is his duty to escort and convey mentally disordered
persons to hospital and, subject to the provisions of the Act, any
person absconding from hospital or guardianship may be taken
into custody and subsequently returned thereto by the mental
welfare officer. Moreover, where an officer has knowledge that a
person suffering from mental disorder is living alone, or is being
cruelly treated or neglected, he has a duty to apply to the Court
for a warrant to enter such premises with a view to ascertaining
the situation.
Apart from emergency applications where only the medical
recommendation of the patient's own doctor is required, it is
necessary to obtain a further medical recommendation from a
doctor approved by the local authority as being experienced in the
diagnosis and treatment of mental disorder.
General
The current year has been one of consolidation. We have
been fortunate in keeping our establishment of staff and, other than
admissions to Day Centres and Hostels, we have been able to meet all
demands made upon us for community and statutory services. Our
immediate response to all requests made by general practitioners
and psychiatrists for admissions to hospital has, on many occasions,
been complimented.
Support which we can offer to clients and their families in their
own homes is extensive but, in itself, it is insufficient. Day Centres
and a Hostel for the mentally ill, had they been available, would not
only have avoided many frustrations but would have provided the
staff with greater opportunities for producing satisfactory solutions.
The lack of these amenities has been due, largely, to financial restrictions
imposed by the Government. However, it was decided that
premises at St. John's Park purchased for conversion to a Hostel