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46
order to preserve casework liaison. The Association appreciated this view, but, at the same time,
were aware that the problem stated by the City Council was acute in the inner London boroughs
where there is a large number of the vagrant type of patient and where patients have to be placed in
psychiatric hospitals which are a long distance from their homes. In the above circumstances the
Association decided to ask the four Regional Hospital Boards to consider whether they could help
diminish the expenditure of staff time in securing admission of patients to psychiatric hospitals
and suggested that some form of "referee' 'procedure might be instituted to ensure that local
hospitals do not get too large a share of vagrant patients. The Association drew the attention of
the Ministry of Health to the above problems and to their approach to the Regional Hospital Boards.
Fortunately, towards the end of the year the situation with regard to admission to psychiatric
hospitals became somewhat easier, but nonetheless a considerable amount of time is still spent by
the Department's mental health staff in arranging admission of patients.
At the time of preparing this Report the views of the Regional Hospital Boards are awaited.
Mentally Disordered Patients
Patients referred for consideration this year totalled 1212; referrals for 1965 were 821. This
indicates the growth in the volume of work undertaken by the Mental Health Section. Five hundred
and four patients were admitted to psychiatric hospitals informally or compulsorily, and 441 were
received into community care. In all other cases, help, where appropriate, was given.
At the end of 1966 the total number of patients in community care was:—623 (1965: 492);
mentally ill, 371 (1965: 245); subnormal and severely subnormal, 252 (1965: 247).
Residential Care
During 1966 the City Council maintained in residential accommodation 31 mentally ill patients and
39 subnormal and severely subnormal patients. Also in residential homes are 17 subnormal and
severely subnormal patients who are in the care of the City Council's Children's Department, with
whom the Mental Health Section works closely.
OTHER SERVICES FOR SUBNORMAL AND SEVERELY SUBNORMAL PATIENTS
Day Training Centres for junior and senior trainees
There are 58 children and adults attending training centres:—
Fulham Junior 5
Kensington Junior 21
North Kensington Senior 15
Balham .. 3
Clapham .. 1
College Park 10
Archway .. 3
Organised Annual Holiday for Trainees
During 1966 arrangements were made for fifteen Westminster trainees to have a two week holiday
at St. Mary's Bay Holiday Camp, Dymchurch, Kent. This was again very successful and enjoyed
by all who took part.
Home Tuition
One patient, who is in community care, received training in her home by a qualified home tutor.
Special Day Nursery, Frances House, Bravington Road, W.9.
This nursery, run by the City of Westminster Society for Mentally Handicapped Children,
continues to provide a very important and necessary service for the mentally handicapped child.
Sixteen children are attending there at present.
Westminster City Council Day Nurseries
Twelve mentally handicapped children were admitted to these day nurseries during the year and
eight were still in attendance in December, 1966.
Linnet House, Special Care Unit, Charlbert Street, N.W.8.
There is provision for 12 severely handicapped children aged 5-12 years in this Unit which opened
on 3rd October, 1966. Three children were admitted immediately and by December six were in
attendance. Transport is provided to and from the Unit.
All children who attend these nurseries referred to above are seen regularly by one of the Council's
Senior Medical Officers.
This Unit is also run by the City of Westminster Society for Mentally Handicapped Children, on
behalf of the City Council, and a very close and satisfactory working arrangement exists between the
Council and the Society.