View report page

97
tion and others are in acute hospitals, nurseries or similar establishments where they
are occupying beds urgently needed for the admission of children of the type for
whom the accommodation was intended. Of the 139 patients awaiting admission on
31st December, 1950, 103 were children awaiting admission to the Fountain Hospital
and 45 of them were regarded as being cases of outstanding urgency.
In an attempt to provide more vacancies at the Fountain Hospital, the South
West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board in July decided that no patients from
the other three metropolitan hospital regions would in future be admitted unless the
regional hospital board concerned arranged for the transfer from the Fountain
Hospital of an older patient to another hospital. The immediate effect of this
decision has been to expedite admissions from the South West Metropolitan Region,
in some cases out of proportion to their apparent urgency, and to slow up admissions
from the other three regions. It is hoped, however, that when the initial difficulties
have been overcome admissions will again be at a uniform rate from all four regions.
Some relief during the year was provided by the admission of seven children from
the Fountain Hospital waiting list to approved homes with which the South West
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board have contractual arrangements. Three
patients were admitted to the care of nominees of the Guardianship Society, Brighton,
pending the provision of suitable vacancies for them in the Fountain Hospital.
In addition, during the year 14 patients awaiting admission to that hospital were
admitted to the holiday home (Lynsted) at Walmer, Kent, administered by the
National Association for Mental Health, for periods not exceeding six weeks, to
relieve parents during domestic emergencies. In each of the cases sent to Lynsted
and placed by the Guardianship Society, admission was under section 15 of the
Mental Deficiency Act, 1913, as to a place of safety, and the cost of maintenance
was defrayed by the appropriate metropolitan regional hospital board.
Provision of
medical
certificates
The Council agreed to provide free of charge, medical certificates required to
secure the admission to mental deficiency institutions of private patients residing in
the County of London.
Guardianshi p
Patients under guardianship in London were visited by the Council's officers at
least once a quarter, every third quarterly visit being made by one of the Council's
medical staff. Each London patient placed under guardianship through the agency
of the Guardianship Society, Brighton, was visited at least once during the year by
an inspector of the Public Health Department in addition to the visits made by the
Society's officers.
Generally the conditions of guardianship were found to be satisfactory, but in a
few cases a change of guardian was thought to be in the patient's interest and this
was arranged.
A marked feature of the care of patients under guardianship was the rise in maintenance
costs, and, where necessary, the amount paid to the guardian was increased.
During the year holidays for patients under guardianship were provided where it was
considered desirable on medical grounds. An allowance of 10s. a head was granted,
where necessary, to patients under the guardianship of the Council's inspectors for
the provision of extra fare at Christmas.
Occupation centres
Two additional occupation centres (one in Greenwich for children and another
in Hackney for elder boys) were opened during the year, bringing the total to eighteen,
the number approved by the Minister of Health. The accommodation now provided
is considered adequate to meet the present needs of the County. The following is a list