View report page

1ll
home run by the National Association for Mental Health at Walmer, and Orchard Dene,
Rainhill, Liverpool, a home managed by the same association on behalf of the National
Association of Parents of Backward Children. The Council recovers a contribution
towards the cost of maintenance in such cases according to the means of the patient's
family. In view of the power conferred on local health authorities by the circular the
arrangement for the admission of children to Lynsted at the expense of the South East
Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board was discontinued by the Board.
38 London patients were admitted to hospitals under the provisions of the circular
for a variety of reasons during the year for an average period of approximately one
month each.
The demand which has developed since the issue of the circular has indicated that
the provision of these facilities fills a real want and reports show that the families of
patients have benefited considerably as a result of the temporary relief afforded to them.
Farm
training
Although no boys leaving special schools for the educationally sub-normal had been
placed under the Y.M.C.A.'s British Boys for British Farms scheme, which enables
suitable boys to be given farm training and placed in employment, since July, 1951,
when it was agreed with the Association that such boys would be accepted, it was
decided, when the matter was reviewed after twelve months, that the arrangement
should be continued. Subsequently one boy was provided with training under the scheme
and was found employment on a farm.
Guardianship
Guardianship is not now provided for defectives solely to enable financial assistance
to be given and a number who were placed under guardianship for this reason now
receive National Assistance grants and have been discharged. Generally speaking,
patients are placed under guardianship when they have no homes or their homes are
unsuitable and institutional care is unnecessary. A number of patients are placed in
foster homes, small homes, hostels and convents in and around London under the
guardianship of the matron or superintendent. The Guardianship Society, Brighton,
also finds suitable foster homes for defectives, some of whom are self-supporting.
During 1952, 24 patients were placed under guardianship. Of these 17 were school
leavers who, it was felt, would justify a trial in the community as they were likely with
careful supervision and guidance, to be able to support themselves. They were placed
under the guardianship of the Council's inspectors who became responsible for placing
them in foster homes of approved standard and finding suitable employment or,
alternatively, finding resident employment within the scope of their abilities. For
guardianship of this type of patient to be successful, it is essential that the patients
themselves should be mentally capable of work, that they should be relatively stable
and of normal social behaviour. It has been decided to provide a hostel in or near London
for girls leaving special educationally sub-normal schools at the age of 16 years who
have no homes (or unsuitable homes) and do not need care and training in an institution.
An endeavour is being made to acquire suitable premises for a hostel to accommodate
not more than 12 girls who will be placed under the guardianship under the Mental
Deficiency Acts of officers of the Council. The hostel will be in the nature of an
experiment and the possibility of setting up a similar hostel for boys will be considered
in the light of the experience gained.
At 31st December, 1952,222 patients remained under guardianship. Of these 45 were
under the personal guardianship of the Council's inspectors, 68 under the guardianship
of nominees of The Guardianship Society, Brighton, 91 under the guardianship of
relatives and friends, and 18 under the guardianship of superintendents of voluntary
homes.
H