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58
Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts, 1890-1930
On 4th July, 1948, immediately prior to the transfer of the Council's mental
hospitals and institutions to the Regional Hospital Boards, there were on the registers
of those hospitals and institutions 21,818 mental patients, of whom 16,989 were
certified patients, 2,047 voluntary patients, 13 temporary patients, 1,867 detained
under Section 24 of the Lunacy Act. 1890. and 902 uncertified senile Patients.
Provision and
care and
treatment
for the
mentally ill
The duties, previously performed by relieving officers in the Social Welfare
Department, of taking the initial steps in providing care and treatment for persons
suffering from mental illness have, since 5th July, been carried out by "duly authorised
officers," designated mental welfare officers, in the Public Health Department.
A senior mental welfare officer, thirteen mental welfare officers and five
assistant mental welfare officers have been appointed.
Experience in London indicated the desirability, as a general rule, of continuing
the previous practice of removing mentally sick persons needing to be placed under
care and control in the first instance to an "observation unit" (now properly described
as a hospital designated for the purposes of Section 20 of the Lunacy Act, 1890)
and the majority of cases have been dealt with in this way since 5th July.
The proposals submitted to the Minister provided for the mental welfare officers
to be located in the four district offices already established for work under the
Mental Deficiency Acts, with a central night and week-end office at the County Hall
to meet demands outside normal office hours. It was found necessary,
however, owing to anticipated difficulties (which in fact materialised) in
connection with the allotment of beds in hospitals designated under Section 20,
to centralise the service completely in the first instance at the County Hall. It has
not yet been possible to distribute the work among the district offices, but the matter
is being kept under review in order that the original proposals may be implemented
when favourable circumstances permit. Cars are provided for the use of mental welfare
officers in securing the removal of patients in those cases where an ambulance is
not necessary.

*Of these, 2 men and 7 women were certified and admitted to mental hospitals.
Of the 1,045 male and 1,472 female patients admitted to hospitals designated
under Section 20, 390 male and 787 female patients subsequently were certified and
admitted to mental hospitals. The Council has no precise information as to the action
taken in respect of the remaining patients, but it can be stated that some would have
been admitted to mental hospitals as voluntary or temporary patients, some transferred
to hospitals for the chronic sick, some discharged and some would have died.
Care and
after-care
Since 5th July, 41 patients have been provided with recuperative holidays,
usually for four weeks, in Mental After Care Association homes. Of these, 19 had been
receiving treatment in general hospitals or at out-patient clinics and 22 were sent
from mental hospitals. Of these latter, 10 were discharged from certificate and 12
were voluntary patients.