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86
Farm
training
In July, 1951, approval was given to a scheme whereby suitable boys under
supervision could receive training on farms under the Y.M.C.A.'s "British Boys for
British Farms" arrangements. Under the scheme boys leaving special schools who
are keen to undertake farm work and are mentally and physically fit to do so may be
given training in elementary agricultural work and subsequently found employment.
When necessary, assistance can be given in the provision of clothing to enable the
boy to undergo the training. Unfortunately no boys suitable for placing under the
scheme have been found up to the end of the year.
Accommodation
During the year, the list of patients waiting admission to institutions continued
to increase.
Before the war 9,476 beds were available in the Council's own mental deficiency
institutions for London patients. Owing to war damage and other causes, the number
was reduced to 8,519 by July, 1948. In consequence of the re-allocation of the accommodation
by the four Metropolitan Regional Hospital Boards, 25 per cent. of the
vacancies arising in these institutions was allocated to other local health authorities
and London's allocation was correspondingly reduced.
The number of London cases waiting admission increased from 40 in July, 1948,
to 154 at the end of December, 1951; of these 117 were infants and young children
of the type suitable for admission to the Fountain Hospital.
The present resources of the Fountain Hospital, which serves a part of Surrey
as well as the whole of London, are quite inadequate to meet the needs. If more
accommodation for infants and young children could be provided, London's problem
of accommodating mentally defective patients would be largely solved, since the
waiting time for other types is not very long and vacancies for really urgent cases can
usually be obtained without undue delay.
Opportunity was taken when the deputation from the Council waited on the
Minister of Health on 12th December. 1951, (see page 82). to impress these difficulties
upon him.
The decision of the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, referred
to in the report for 1950, that patients from other Metropolitan Regions should not
be admitted to the Fountain Hospital unless the Regional Board concerned arranged
for the transfer of an older patient from the Fountain Hospital to another hospital in
exchange, resulted at first in the proportion of admissions from the South West
Metropolitan Region being higher than from the other Metropolitan Regions, but
after the initial stages admissions from the four Metropolitan Regions became more
nearly uniform as had been anticipated.
During the year some relief has been afforded by the admission of ten children
(three from St. Lawrence's Hospital and seven from the Fountain Hospital waiting
lists) to approved homes. As in the previous year it was possible to secure the admission
of a number of children to the holiday home (Lynsted) at Walmer provided by the
National Association for Mental Health for periods generally not exceeding six weeks,
to provide some relief to the parents. The cost of maintenance of the children was
defrayed by the appropriate Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.
During the year the Management Committee of the Fountain Hospital agreed to
admit a number of patients awaiting permanent admission to that hospital for short
periods without formality to assist parents during periods of particular difficulty, e.g.,
whilst the mother was in hospital or to enable parents to have a much needed holiday.
The attendance of children at the Council's occupation centres has undoubtedly
helped to relieve the pressure on institutional accommodation. Three children awaiting
admission did so well at the centres that their parents withdrew requests for their
admission to institutions and there is no doubt that in many other cases attendance
at an occupation centre has provided much relief to parents.
Guardianship
Of the 221 cases remaining under guardianship on 31st December, 1951, 34 were
under the personal guardianship of the Council's Inspectors, 69 under the guardianship