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Circular 2/58 also requested local health authorities to review all cases under
guardianship under the Mental Deficiency Acts and to recommend the Board of Control
to discharge the orders in those cases where supervision would be sufficient, bearing in
mind the financial help which could be given by the National Assistance Board. By the
end of 1958, 32 cases had been discharged by the Board on the recommendation of the
Council and financial responsibility for the maintenance of 55 patients had been transferred
from the Council to the National Assistance Board. The review is continuing.
Allowances
for pocketmoney,
etc.
At the end of the year pocket-money allowances to mentally deficient persons under
guardianship, etc. were increased to the following rates:
Up to 10s. a week at age 16
„ 12s. „ 17
„ 15s. „ 18 or over
„ 17s. 6d. „ 21
In addition, recreation allowances up to 50s. a head a year in respect of mentally
deficient persons under guardianship or in care informally in a hostel or similar establishments
were authorised to enable such persons to be given occasional outings and treats,
and authority was given for the payment by the Council of the travelling expenses in
excess of 10s. a week of any girl at Dover Lodge to and from her place of employment.
Occupation
centres
In November an additional centre for eighty children was opened in a former school
building at Shoreditch. This enabled the number of children attending the centre held
in rented premises at Finsbury to be reduced. Building work on the new Kensington
and Lewisham centres was well advanced in December, 1958.
Speech
therapy
Authority was given in July, 1958 for speech therapy sessions, which during 1957
had been provided at two junior occupation centres, to be extended to include all junior
occupation centres.
Stepney
industrial
centre
An increase in the ex gratia payment made to each of the boys and men attending
the Stepney industrial centre from 1s. to 1s. 6d. a day was authorised from 1 September,
1958.
Home
teaching
A second home teacher was appointed during the year and 35 persons are receiving
tuition, the majority by weekly sessions.
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