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Summary of cases dealt with during 1948
Placed in institutions 324
Placed under guardianship 44
Placed in places of safety pending the presentation of a
petition 29
Placed under supervision 420
Discharged from institutional care 173
Removed to a mental hospital under the Lunacy Act 17
Removed to a State institution 17
Ascertained not subject for action 262
Died 122
1,408
*This figure includes 353 cases on licence who are visited at regular intervals by officers of the Council
on behalf of the Regional Hospital Boards.
tIn addition to the 3,853 cases under supervision, 999 persons known to the local authority to be
mentally deficient but not subject to be dealt with under the Mental Deficiency Acts, are visited on a
voluntary basis at infrequent intervals. The Council acts as the paid agent of the Ministry of Labour in
placing in employment children who leave E.S.N. schools and supervising them up to 18 years of age. On
31st December, 1948, 412 children were being afforded the benefits of this scheme. The Ministry of Health
made a grant of £1,800 to cover the cost of the work for the year.
ø Of these 68 were awaiting the provision of institutional care.
Occupation
centres
On the outbreak of war in 1939, the twelve occupation centres administered by
the Mental Hospitals Committee, which catered for a total average roll of 339 mentally
deficient children and young persons under supervision, on licence from certified
institutions, or under guardianship, were closed.
In 1944 it was decided that the Education Committee should undertake responsibility
for re-opening, reorganising, and managing the occupation centre service
as soon as the general situation permitted. In June, 1947, one small centre was
established but was temporarily closed in June, 1948, and the children were transferred
to one of three new centres opened on 5th July, 1948. At this date, when the
Health Committee assumed responsibility for the centres, negotiations were in various
stages of progress for the renting of premises (church halls, etc.) and for the adaptation
of two redundant school buildings to establish additional centres. By 31st December,
1948, one centre had been closed owing to the lapse of the tenancy, the small centre
(closed in June) had been reopened and three more centres had been established.
Plans were also completed for the opening in January, 1949, of three more centres,
and arrangements were partially completed for the establishment of four further
centres to be opened in March, 1949, making a total of 13 centres (maximum total
roll 375). Further provision is to be made for a total maximum roll of approximately
500.