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 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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The Council also decided to participate in a scheme for the establishment of a day
hospital at St. Olave's hospital, Bermondsey in association with Cane Hill hospital, in
whose catchment area the former hospital is, and with the Bermondsey and Southwark
Hospital Management Committee. The Council will bear the cost of occupational therapy
provided for the patients, and make available the services of one of its psychiatric social
workers. It is expected that the establishment of this unit will also facilitate the operation
of the hospital admission procedures under the Mental Health Act, in which both the
hospital medical staff and the Council's mental welfare officers will be concerned.
National Association for Mental Health—In recognition of its general services to the
community and to local health authorities a grant of £300 was again paid to the National
Association for Mental Health.
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; references unless otherwise specified are to the Mental Deficiency Act, 1913:
| 1958 | 1959 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Reported under section 57 of the Education Act, 1944 | 440 | 396 | |
| Not reported, referred for voluntary supervision | 141 | 176 | |
| - | 581 | - 572 | |
| Police authority (section 8) | 11 | 24 | |
| From hospitals, residential nurseries, etc. | 101 | 80 | |
| Miscellaneous | 188 | 193 | |
| Total | 881 | 869 | |
| - | - | ||
The position as at 31st December, 1959, is shown below, together with comparable
figures for 1958.
1958 1959
Under guardianship—
Personal guardianship of council's social workers 52 57
Nominees of the Guardianship Society, Brighton 60 52
Guardianship of relatives and friends 28 11
Guardianship of superintendents of small homes and
institutions 21 18
161 138
In hostels without orders under the Mental Deficiency Acts 11 31
Under statutory supervision 4,772 4,648
Under voluntary supervision 1,461 1,668
In institutions on orders under the Mental Deficiency Acts 4,163 2,332
In institutions without orders 3,119 4,887
7,282 7,219
In hospitals, residential nurseries, etc., awaiting institutional
care 25 71
Still under consideration 21 26
Total 13,733 13,801
89