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patients' families. A survey carried out by this officer revealed that there were 87
Lewisham patients in the hospital (48 male, 39 female) of whom 30 had been patients
for more than twenty years, 7 between ten and thirty years and 17 between five and
ten years. There is no doubt that the rehabilitation of hospital patients can be greatly
helped by visits to them and their families by a Health Department social worker
who can also provide support for those parents with emotional problems following
the admission of their children to hospital.
Mental Illness
Honor Lea Hostel. The hostel continued to be well occupied throughout the year.
Improved accommodation was provided for the deputy warden and his family
and this necessitated a reduction in the number of places available for residents to 53.
During the year there were 44 admissions (24 men and 20 women) and 35 residents
(16 men and 19 women) left. Of those admitted, 31 were from hospital, 11 were from
the patients' own homes or lodgings and 2 were from other hostels. 11 residents
left the hostel to go to their own homes, 6 went into lodgings and 4 were transferred
to other hostels. 14 patients had to return to hospital during the year but it is gratifying
to note that in every case this was arranged on an informal basis without the
need for compulsory procedures. Applications for admission to the hostel are
accepted in respect of persons whose normal address is anywhere in inner London
or the London Boroughs of Bexley and Bromley. At the end of the year there were
50 residents of whom 18 came from Lewisham addresses.
Selection of residents is carried out by a senior medical officer, the hostel warden
and the hostel social worker, who normally interview each applicant either in hospital
or at the hostel. In selecting a resident an attempt is made to see sufficiently far
ahead to ensure that there is a good chance of the person becoming fully independent
within a reasonable period of time although no maximum period of stay is laid down.
Considerable importance is attached to willingness to enter employment. Some
very disturbed and difficult persons have been accepted but it has become clear that
the number of these must be limited so as not to put too great a strain on staff or
other residents.
Residents are given help and arrangement to obtain employment by the hostel
warden and their work has been very encouraging. Of those in residence at the
end of the year 44 were in full or part-time employment, including several recently
admitted after many years in hospital.
As an experiment arrangements were made for two parties of hostel residents
who were considered to be unable to make their own arrangements for a holiday, or
to take a holiday on their own, to spend a week at hotels on the south-east coast
accompanied by a social worker. These schemes proved most successful and will
be repeated in future years.
The problem of the blocking of places in the hostel by residents who no longer
require the degree of supervision provided there but are not quite ready for complete
independence has caused some concern. To alleviate the difficulty the Council
agreed to purchase a house which will be converted into bed-sitter accommodation
for 6 persons recovering from mental illness, drawn principally from the hostel,
who will look after themselves with support from a visiting social worker.
The admission of 7 mentally ill persons not suitable for Honor Lea to homes or
hostels provided by voluntary organisations was arranged during the year. At the
end of the year 19 such persons were being maintained by the Council.
Day Centres
The two day centres for the rehabilitation of mentally ill persons are accommodated
in rented premises. At the Cambridge day centre in Lee the premises are reasonably
satisfactory for the purpose but as the Council does not have exclusive use of them
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