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 1953

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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95
Short-term
care and
recuperative
holidays
The number of recuperative holidays provided during the year again increased,
210 being provided compared with 158 in 1952 and 93 in 1951.
28 patients recuperating from comparatively severe psychiatric illnesses were admitted
to Mental After-Care Association homes at Cheam, Surrey and Dartford, Kent, for
periods of 3 to 12 weeks. These two homes are intended for patients considered to
have good prospects of being able to resume employment, and during their stay they arc
assisted in obtaining suitable work. The number of cases in this category has so far
been surprisingly few in the London area; this applies particularly to male patients.
A further 22 were maintained in homes sponsored by the Mental After-Care Association,
usually for a period of 2 to 3 weeks.
The remaining 160 were patients suffering from disabilities of a nervous, rather
than a mental nature. Many of these had not required specialised treatment and others
had been treated in out-patient clinics. This large group of patients was sent to recuperative
holiday homes where they mixed with persons who had suffered from physical
disability. The average length of stay decreased from 3 weeks in 1952 to a little over
2\ weeks in 1953. A letter was sent to each patient, about 8-12 weeks after returning
home, enquiring whether the home chosen had been satisfactory and the holiday
beneficial. The replies received have been of value in deciding the appropriate length of
stay and the most suitable home in subsequent cases.
Statistics

Table: Mental Deficiency ActsThe following table shows the sources from which cases were brought to notice under the Mental Deficiency Acts and the action taken thereon:

Mental Deficiency Acts

The following table shows the sources from which cases were brought to notice under the Mental Deficiency Acts and the action taken thereon:

Sources of information1950195119521953Totals from 1.4.14 to 31.12.53
Supervision section1281491,584
Local education authority43945357053316,086
Police authority (section 8) ..393132241,997
Transfers from prison (section 9)1———229
Transfers from approved school (section 9)22—2567
From hospitals and institutions8910312497611
Miscellaneous15718722222210,744
Total73978496288731,818

Table: The position at 31st December, 1953, with regard to the cases referred to in the last column of the preceding table is shown below, together with the position on the same date in the three preceding years:

The position at 31st December, 1953, with regard to the cases referred to in the last column of the preceding table is shown below, together with the position on the same date in the three preceding years:

1950195119521953
Detained in institutions7,767*7,809*7,862*7,842*
Discharged from institutional care2,7382,9023,0753,235
Removed to mental hospitals522543555572
Not subject for action9,4039,6689,92210,190
Died4,3804,5234,6784,853
Total removed from active list24,81025,44526,09226,692

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* This figure includes cases on licence who are visited at regular intervals by officers of the Council on behalf of the
regional hospital boards as follows : 1950, 366; 1951, 352; 1952, 259; 1953, 236.