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The Council approved eight medical practitioners during the year under
the Mental Health (Hospital and Guardianship) Regulations, 1960, for the purpose
of Section 28 of the Mental Health Act, 1958.
Southwark, together with other Inner London Boroughs, continued to utilise
and share the cost of maintenance by the Greater London Council of the central
index.
The Council's policy of encouraging mental welfare officers to become
qualified was continued and two such officers returned to duty during the year
having obtained the Certificate of Social Work. At various periods of the year
students from different colleges were seconded to the department for supervised
periods of practical training ranging from 4 weeks to 6 months.
Many visitors came to the department from various parts of Britain and
abroad to see the different aspects of the Mental Health Service and Establishments.
Doctors, medical students, nurses and nursing students, social workers
and social work students were included amongst the visitors. The Chief Mental
Welfare Officer and members of her staff also visited schools and various organisations
to give talks on the Mental Health Services.
Mentally III
Day Centres
Light industrial work for local firms continued to be undertaken by mentally
ill persons in need of rehabilitation who attended the Camberwell and Castle
Day Centres and the Evelyn Coyle Day Centre for the elderly mentally infirm.
Attendance payments were introduced for persons attending the Day Centres.
At Camberwell and Castle Day Centres these payments in each case consisted
of 2½p per hour for attendance, plus a merit bonus of 10p per day giving a maximum
weekly payment of £1.25. For the elderly mentally infirm attending Evelyn
Coyle Day Centre there was an attendance payment of 5p per day, plus a merit
and ability bonus of between 1½p and 5p per day giving a weekly maximum of 50p.
One of the highlights for the elderly mentally infirm was a coach outing in
May to see the blossom fields of Kent.
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