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 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The following table shows the number of persons dealt with by the Council's mental Statistics welfare officers during 1952 and the action taken :
| 1952 | 1951 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Total | ||
| Admitted for observation to hospitals designated under section 20 of the Lunacy Act, 1890 | 2,142 | 2,792 | 4,934 | 4,880 |
| Dealt with in their own homes, etc., under sections 14 and 16 of the Lunacy Act, 1890 | 407 | 723 | l,130† | 890* |
| Admitted direct to mental hospitals under section 11 of the Lunacy Act, 1890 | 21 | 18 | 39 | 21 |
| No action under the Lunacy Acts found necessary | 702 | 1,058 | 1,760 | 1,602 |
| Total | 3,272 | 4,591 | 7,863 | 7,393 |
*Of these 144 male and 323 female patients were certified and removed to mental hospitals.
† Of these 263 male and 410 female patients were certified and removed to mental hospitals.
The following table shows the ultimate disposal of the patients admitted to observation wards (including 167 patients in wards on 1st January, 1952):
| 1952 | 1951 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Total | ||
| Certified and sent to mental hospitals | 761 | 1,045 | 1,806 | 1,762 |
| Admitted as voluntary patients to mental hospitals | 482 | 699 | 1,181 | 1,009 |
| Admitted as temporary patients to mental hospitals | 11 | 32 | 43 | 28 |
| Discharged to care of relatives (Section 22) | 7 | 31 | 38 | 43 |
| No order made by Justice and patient discharged | 29 | 18 | 47 | 118 |
| Transferred to general wards | 65 | 61 | 126 | 148 |
| Transferred to Tooting Bec Hospital without certification.. | 114 | 160 | 274 | 277 |
| Transferred to Abbots Langley Hospital without certification | 4 | 8 | 12 | 27 |
| Transferred to Mental After Care Association homes | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Died | 77 | 72 | 149 | 208 |
| Discharged by Medical Officer | 572 | 661 | 1,233 | 1,238 |
| Dealt with privately | 5 | 7 | 12 | 13 |
| Dealt with under Mental Deficiency Acts | 3 | 8 | 11 | 10 |
| In ward on 31.12.52 | 75 | 92 | 167 | 167 |
| Total | 2,206 | 2,895 | 5,101 | 5,051 |
Ascertainment
and
supervision
Work under the Mental Deficiency Acts
All the arrangements for the ascertainment and supervision of defectives and the
presentation of petitions continue to be carried out as envisaged in the Council's scheme
under section 51 of the National Health Service Act. These arrangements are working
satisfactorily. The medical work involved in ascertainment is carried out by medical
officers on the Council's central staff and the necessary social enquiries are made by
women inspectors also on the central staff. The medical examination of defectives or
alleged defectives is normally carried out at the County Hall but where necessary, e.g.
the defective is severely physically handicapped, a visit is paid to the home.
The Council has continued to carry out the supervision of defectives in their own
homes by social workers employed in the four district offices. During 1952 a total of
17,498 visits were paid to persons under statutory supervision or on licence from
hospitals. In addition, 802 visits were paid to persons under voluntary supervision.
It has not yet been possible on economic grounds to institute an arrangement for the
systematic medical re-examination of defectives under supervision at regular intervals.
1,867 visits were paid on behalf of hospital management committees and local health
authorities to ascertain the home circumstances of patients in connection with the
statutory reconsideration of orders and the consideration of applications for leave of
absence or discharge.