View report page

Within three months the provision of this Emergency Service during dayandnight
had reduced the emergency admissionsduring the night and weekends from fourteen to four
per month. The majority of urgent cases were treated and followed up in the Emergency
Unit - Coborn Ward- The effect of this service can be illustrated in the reduction of
compulsory admissions under Section 29 of the Mental Health Act 1959.
ORDER 1965 1966 1967 1968
Section 29 (3 days) 106 63 53 52
Section 25 (28 days) 48 52 42 43
2. Early diagnosis and treatment was provided through rationalisation and centralisation
of out-patient clinics, and expansion of out-patient and day patient facilities.
OUT-PATIENTS 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
New 278 283 581 6 7 7 8 7 2 921
Total 1,704 2,169 7327 9,122 11,060 12006
Emergency Unit - - 2941 3812 6,144 6821
DAY-PATIENTS
Psychiatric 75 829 1,762 290 1 3,873 7,147
Geriatric 5,254 5,191 5,567 5,382 5,699 5,607
This was backed up by short-term treatment and increased bed-occupancy. It was
greatly assisted by the absence of a waiting-list and the opportunity of daily visits
for the patients in hospital.
ADMISSIONS 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
From Tower Hamlets 287 296 502 611 622 726
Total 475 570 1,174 1,200 1,146 1,143
Emergency Unit 110 132 260 337 335 332
3. Community care has been provided by the Mental Welfare Department and the
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. Mental Welfare Officers attend the hospital to
receive referrals of cases for after-care and visit their patients during their treatment
and after their return home. Each one covers one of the four postal districts in Tower
Hamlets with an annual referral rate of between 40 to 65 per social worker.
One Day-Centre at Pritchards Road has been provided by the Local Authority and
twoothersin Shandy Stree t and Kiteat Terrace by the Psychiatric Rehabil i tat ion Association.
They provide occupation for the patients who require further treatment at home or who
need a period of training before returning to full employment, or who live alone or
under stress, and finally those handicapped who are unable to work but able to live at
home.
Five evening centres provide for the social rehabilitation of the patients.A
hostel for 23 psychiatric patients recently discharged from hospital has been provided by
the Cheshire Foundation and the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association at Nicholas House,
Old Nichol Street. On the same premises an Industrial Education Unit was opened in 1967 by
the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association assisted by the Inner London Education
- 45 -