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170
Hostels or Homes
(for Subnormal Patients)
During November of the current year, a purpose-built hostel
was opened at Ashburnham Grove to provide emergency long
and short term care for 25 subnormal girls and boys between the
ages of 3 and 16 years. While in occupation at this Hostel, the
children will attend the Maze Hill Junior Training Centre.
So far, because of staffing difficulties, only 5 children have
been accommodated. A policy of employing nurses proved to be
unsuccessful as the work involved was not commensurate with
their training and it has been found extremely difficult to find
sufficient experienced staff or even kindly women who are prepared
to work the hours necessary in such an establishment, especially
in view of the onerous nature of the duties and the low rates of
pay. Night duty for the staff has become essential for it has been
found that some children tend to get up and wander around the
building at this time.
At the close of the year, consideration was being given to the
adaptation of a property for use as a Hostel for 25 subnormal
adults.

Services for the Mentally Ill
Because the psychological needs of a patient depend so much
on family relationships and those with his friends, associates,
superiors, etc., a local authority's endeavours should include not
only care for the mentally ill in their own homes and within their
own community but, on a broader basis, schemes for the education
of the public to accept them should be given a high degree of
priority.
Our community services, therefore, are geared to support the