View report page

18
Epileptics.
Brentwood
colony.
The number of beds at Brentwood colony remains at 437, and there are usually
about 50 vacancies, mainly in the children's block. The 60 beds for children under
16 are rarely more than one-third occupied.
The practice has been continued of excluding patients who show definite
mental deterioration, and of providing a steadily increasing standard of training
for those admitted. As well as the usual domestic activities, an increasing number
of interesting and varied occupations are provided in the workrooms, about 110
women being thus employed.
The show of work at the County Hall in June and at the "open day" in September
gave the patients for the first time a much appreciated opportunity of
displaying their work, including rugs, toys, lacework, weaving and needlework.
It was felt that insufficient use had been made of the large grounds for the
employment of patients, and a gardening instructress with considerable experience
in the training of institution inmates was therefore appointed on the retirement of
the gardener. A scheme for the training of certain of the more capable women as
her assistants has already been begun and gives every prospect of success. It is
hoped ultimately to have about 50 of the younger women regularly employed on
the land. This type of work is greatly enjoyed by the patients themselves, and
has proved of definite benefit to their health.
Edmonton
colony.
The number of beds at Edmonton colony is 328, which approximates closely to
the demand for admission, and enables a few special cases to be accepted from outcounty
authorities.
The number of active and employable men in the colony now definitely exceeds
the existing provision in the workshops and on the farm. The carpenter's
and boot-repairing shops are producing an increasingly high standard of work and
more places are needed for patients able and willing to be trained.
The equipment and maintenance of the colony is being gradually improved,
and the removal of the laundry, which is contemplated, will permit a re-organisation
of the dayroom accommodation which is now inadequate.
A complete survey of the epileptics in both the colonies has now been made by
the consultant neurologist and some valuable and interesting information has
been obtained.
Venereal disease.
There has been no change during the year in the accommodation for adult
venereal patients in the Council's general hospitals, the accommodation remaining
at 108 beds for males and 96 for females, in addition to the 82 female beds provided
in Sheffield Street hospital (see p. 104).
During the current year 641 female and 800 male patients were admitted
to the wards.
The number of V.D. maternity cases has increased, probably owing to the
greater care in diagnosis at the ante-natal clinics attached to the Council's hospitals.
Each of the three female wards now has a side ward for 6 to 8 cots for the babies
of mothers under treatment.
Statistics of the work done in the wards are difficult to supply, as the usual test
of efficiency in a V.D. scheme, i.e., the number of patients who remain under treatment
until cured, is in no way applicable to the conditions prevailing in the Council's
V.D. wards. The admission and discharge of these patients is determined by social
circumstances as well as by their clinical condition. A man or woman who has a
home to go to may ask to be discharged to attend an out-patient clinic while still
in an infective condition, while a patient of the vagrant or common lodging house
class may wish to be retained during the whole period of infectivity, and it is in the
interests of the community that he should so remain. Owing to the obligations of
secrecy in dealing with this disease no complete "follow up" of discharged patients
is possible, but a good liaison is maintained with the out-patient clinics conducted
at voluntary hospitals under the Council's scheme, and patients on discharge are
given full information about facilities for continuing treatment.