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There are many errands to be undertaken for catering supplies, workshop materials and banking in
connection with the management of the Centre. Reliability and trust can be built up by these
activities.
Distribution of money received from our work is made on a points system and may be used as an
incentive. We do not penalise slow workers who are considered to be doing their best.
The afternoons as a rule are given over to social activities unless occasionally there is a rush order
in connection with the industrial work. Social activities are many and include discussions, play reading,
painting and drawing, musical appreciation, dancing and folk dancing, films, tape recording and
playback, visiting speakers, card and quiz games, table tennis and darts, etc.
Outings are made to factories, art galleries, museums, exhibitions, swimming baths and other
places of instruction and recreation.
The Terrace magazine has appeared every month and has proved to be a rewarding activity in that
so many patients have contributed and exercised their talents.
The staff at the Terrace consists of Dr. Stewart who attends on a sessional basis, Miss Blair, Miss
Munster and Miss Fabian who are qualified occupational therapists, and Mr. Clark, our experienced
technician. Mrs. Lowe holds the post of domiciliary occupational therapist, having been appointed
by the City Council and attached to the Terrace Day Centre part-time. The staff is concerned in some
cases with the tasks of ensuring that the patient is taking medication as prescribed, which is particularly
important in cases of epilepsy and some cases of schizophrenia, as neglect to do so may lead
to relapse.
The situation may arise when a patient is referred and does not attend for interview or does not
accept the help offered and thereby reverts into isolation. The City Council's mental health social
workers and the domiciliary occupational therapist have been able to do valuable work in these
situations. Occasionally we have a patient attending who is still resident in a hospital until fit enough
to return home, take up lodgings or enter a hostel. The mental health social workers under Mrs.
Paterson are well known to the patients and staff and we are continually grateful for their visits to
the Centre and for their ready help.
There will always remain a proportion of patients who because of their disabilities could never
cope with the demands of earning a living in the ordinary market of life. For these there is a need for an
Industrial Unit as part of the Terrace Day Centre but conducted on commercial lines and staffed
with industrial supervisors skilled in the problems presented by mentally disordered people.
The Goodfellows Therapeutic Social Club meets at the Terrace on Wednesday evenings and is
attended by some of the day patients and by people who are in employment but who have difficulties
in mixing and who look for help in a social group. The Club also provides a method by which we can
follow-up the welfare of our former day patients who have taken up employment. A light and inexpensive
supper is provided by the day staff on the club evening.
The Terrace premises are made available on Monday evenings for a club for mentally handicapped
young people in Westminster.
We have had many visitors interested in the rehabilitation of mentally ill both from this country and
from abroad. Groups of nurses from Middlesex Hospital and St. Mary's Hospital have also joined in
our activities as part of their training.
Throughout the year we have been encouraged in our work by the interest shown by the Medical
Officer of Health for Westminster, Dr. Briscoe-Smith, and for the ready help from various administrative
officers of Westminster City Council.
We have been honoured by visits from the Lord Mayor of Westminster and members of the Social
Services Committee.
VENEREAL DISEASE
There are four special departments in teaching hospitals in Westminster for the treatment of
venereal disease. All of them show an increase in attendance, but it is significant that the increase is
mostly in those with non-specific conditions. Perhaps this indicates a greater willingness on the part
of patients to avail themselves of the excellent diagnostic facilities provided.