London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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80
Recuperative
holidays
possible to give information regarding the ultimate disposal of cases other than those
certified, as the arrangements to provide other means of care, e.g., voluntary
treatment, are made by the staff of the hospitals.
During the year 120 persons suffering from some form of mental illness were
provided with recuperative holidays of four to eight weeks' duration in Mental
After Care Assocation homes. Of these, 23 persons had been receiving treatment
in general hospitals, 17 at psychiatric out-patient clinics and 72 (54 voluntary
patients and 18 discharged from certificate) in mental hospitals.
After-care
Arrangements were completed with the Mental After-Care Association and the
National Association for Mental Health for those bodies to provide an after-care
service on the Council's behalf for persons living in London suffering from mental
illness but not requiring in-patient treatment and the service was inaugurated on
1st May, 1949. The Council agreed to contribute 90 per cent. of the approved cost
of the services provided. 467 patients were visited under the scheme, 282 by the
National Association for Mental Health and 185 by the Mental After-Care Association.
Most of these patients were referred direct to the two Associations by mental
hospitals, psychiatric out-patient clinics or voluntary organisations.
The Council agreed to proposals of the Institute of Social Psychiatry to open
(a) an additional psychotherapeutic social club, in N.W. London, making in all six
clubs run by the Institute for mental patients needing social re-adjustment, and
(b) an occupation centre in S.E. London for the rehabilitation of various types of
mental patient of both sexes. The Council contributes 90 per cent. of the approved
cost of these activities.
Medical
adviser on
mental
health
The opportunity was taken, on his retirement on reaching the age limit from
the position of physician superintendent of Banstead Hospital, to extend the
engagement of Dr. A. A. W. Petrie, C.B.E., as medical adviser to the Council on
mental health to provide for service on approximately 10 half days a month.
Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913—1938 The following table shows the sources from which cases have been brought to notice under the Mental Deficiency Acts and the action taken thereon:—
| Source of information | 1948 | 1949 | Totals from 1st April, 1914, to 31st Dec., 1949 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision Section | 15 | 8 | 1,541 |
| Local education authority | 389 | 357 | 14,091 |
| Police authority (Section 8) | 32 | 28 | 1,871 |
| Transfers from prison (Section 9) ... | 1 | 1 | 228 |
| Transfers from approved schools (Section 9) | 3 | 5 | 561 |
| From hospitals and institutions (from July, 1948, only) | 87 | 111 | 198 |
| Miscellaneous | 140 | 168 | 9,956 |
| Total | 667 | 678 | 28,446 |
| Detained in institutions | 7,720* | |
| Discharged from institutional care | 2,584 | |
| Removed to mental hospitals under the Lunacy Acts | 509 | |
| Ascertained not subject for action | 9,098 | |
| Died | 4,251 | |
| Total removed from active list | 24,162 | |
| Under guardianship | 246 | |
| In places of safety awaiting the presentation of a petition for an order | 11 | |
| Under supervision | 3,964† | |
| In institutions awaiting the presentation of a petition for an order | 54 | |
| Still under consideration | 9 | |
| Total remaining on active list | 4,284‡ | |
| Total | 28,446 |