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The shortage of accommodation in observation wards has persisted and it has again
been necessary to deal with a large number of patients (1,416 compared with 1,130 in
1952) in their own homes or elsewhere than in an observation ward under sections 14
and 16 of the Lunacy Act, 1890.
It has been suggested to the Metropolitan Regional Hospital Boards that if additional
methods were available to deal with senile patients not only would the problem of
accommodation in observation wards be reduced, but the admission of many elderly
patients to mental hospitals might be avoided. Unfortunately, although the Boards have
plans for the future provision of psychiatric geriatric units, they are handicapped by the
financial situation and there does not seem to be any hope of an early solution to this
problem.
Domiciliary
after-care

Employment
finding
Difficulty in obtaining employment was met in many of the cases referred and
this problem was discussed with representatives of Chambers of Commerce in London
and the London Association, Engineering and Allied Employers Federation at a
meeting on 2nd December, 1953, when the representatives agreed to assist, through
their organisations, in finding employment in selected cases referred to them by the
Council's officers. Contact will, of course, continue to be maintained with the disablement
resettlement officers of the Ministry of Labour.
Social clubs
and
rehabilitation
centre
The Council continued to make to the Institute of Social Psychiatry a grant of 90 per
cent. of the cost in respect of London patients attending the social clubs and rehabilitation
centre run by the Institute.
Long-term
care

The patients were assessed according to their means and some contributed towards
the cost of maintenance. Others had no means and received 6s. 6d. a week pocket
money from the National Assistance Board.
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