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 1958

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

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Table: (b) 'Action' cases only

(b) 'Action' cases only

1957 %1958 %
Independent action by mental welfare officer6.88.7
Referred to psychiatrist2.43.5
Removed to observation ward68.368.3
Referred to Justice of the Peace22.519.5
100.0100.0

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These percentages indicate a continuing trend towards procedures designed to help
patients without recourse to direct reference to Justices of the Peace.

Table: (c) By age group (1957 percentages in brackets)

(c) By age group (1957 percentages in brackets)

Age groupTotal
Under 6565 and over
No.%No.%No.%
Removed to observation ward3,29080.7 (79.5)44432.1 (32.9)3,734*68.3 (68.3)
Brought before a Justice of the Peace3699.0 (11.6)69550.2 (56.9)1,06419.5 (22.5)
Other action42210.3 (8.9)24517.7 (10.2)66712.2 (9.2)
Total investigations where action was taken4,081100.01,384100.05,465100.0
No action1,152—392—1,544—
Total investigations5,233—1,776—7,009-

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* Age not stated in four cases. † Age not stated in three cases.
It is apparent from the table that persons aged 65 or over accounted for about a quarter
of the total investigations and of 'action' cases. In 1958, however, proportionately
more of these cases were dealt with independently by mental welfare officers
(or via psychiatrists) than in 1957 with a resultant reduction in the proportion brought
before a Justice of the Peace.

Table: Table (iv) Closure (a) All cases

Table (iv) Closure (a) All cases

No.1957 %No.1958 %
No action possible or necessary1,98826.81,77025.1
Discharged by medical officer at observation ward ..1,31717.71,29918.5
Transferred to general hospital650.9741.1
Other continued care including section 221582.11021.5
Out-patient (psychiatric) and miscellaneous action recommended by psychiatrist460.6600.8
Admitted to mental hospital—
(a) as voluntary patient1,92825.91,88526.8
(b) as non-statutory patient:
(i) Tooting Bec hospital2793.83064.4
(ii) other hospital831.11251.8