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185
Mentally 111 Persons Placed in Homes or Hostels
Mental After-Care Association Hostels 7
Jewish Welfare Board Hostel 1
Private Approved Home 1
S.O.S. Society Hostel 1
Y.M.C.A. Farm Training Hostel 1
National Association for Mental Health Hostel 2
Richmond Fellowship Hostel 1
Honor Lea (London Borough of Lewisham Hostel) 8
Castlewood Day Hospital
Formerly a small hospital annexe, these premises consist of
treatment, consulting and day rooms with office and dining accommodation.
With the exception of the social worker, all staff are
hospital appointments and the present establishment is as follows:
2 Psychiatrists—Registrars or Senior Registrars (one full time—
one 2 days per week)
1 Nursing Sister
1 Staff Nurse—Female
1 Staff Nurse—Male
* 1 Occupational Therapist
* 1 Art Therapist (2 sessions per week)
* 1 Social Worker (J or 4 sessions per week according to need)
1 Secretary (part time)
Kitchen Staff
* Council responsible for salary
The number of patients varies between 25 and 45 but, for the
reasons of comfort, is usually in the 30's range. Treatment is
physically orientated but discussion groups are held and some
counselling is undertaken by the psychiatrists. In this unit the
majority of patients are neurotics or depressives and supervision
of treatment is assumed by the Bexley Hospital consultant
psychiatrists who remain the sole sources of referral which is
effected almost exclusively through the out-patient clinics.
This day hospital is pleasant and reasonably accessible. As a
unit, it might be more effective if detailed consideration could be
given to its precise local function and significance in the light of
the developing community mental health services. There are also
staff deficiencies with frequent changes and it seems that advantage
would flow from the appointment of a consultant psychiatrist,
either full time or part time, with exclusive responsibility for the
day-to-day management and control of the day hospital. Divided
responsibility disrupts continuity and brings confusion. Consideration
should also be given to broadening the field of referral.
Despite these criticisms, however, it would be wrong to