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The following table analyses the discharges during the year; 10 of the persons leaving
were admitted in 1960 and 33 in 1961.
Obtained outside employment 4
Admitted to Government training centre 2
Admitted to hospital 7
Left the district 1
Unsuitable for further attendance 9
*Self-discharged 20
Total 43
*About half of these patients took their discharge within two days; the remainder within two weeks.
The relative number of persons discharged to work or for further training is, of course,
governed by the type of case referred and, as the centre has only undertaken industrial
work for a comparatively short time, it is too early to assess results. Large numbers of
patients do, of course, receive rehabilitation whilst in hospital and the potential demand
for rehabilitation centres for patients only requiring out-patient treatment or treatment
from their general practitioners may not necessarily be high. Patients whose mental state
does not enable them to undertake individual work, even under sheltered conditions, are
not normally accepted for admission to Clifton Lodge, but there may well prove to be
many who can continue to do useful work at the centre but who cannot go the further
stage and work under ordinary factory conditions.
Steps are taken to prevent deterioration in the condition of the patients by ensuring
that they take any tablets prescribed whilst attending the centre and regular visits are
made by one of the Council's psychiatric social workers, working in close liaison with the
supervisor.
The Council plans to open a further centre in the Elephant and Castle area during 1963.
Institute of Social Psychiatry day centres—Since 1949 the Institute of Social Psychiatry
has provided a centre, the Blackfriars rehabilitation centre, for the rehabilitation of mentally
ill patients and the Council has contributed 90 per cent. of the approved cost of attendance
of London patients. It was considered unfortunate that, because there was only one centre,
it was necessary for long-term patients to be treated in association with those who were
recoverable. In May, 1961, however, the Institute opened a second centre, Crossway
rehabilitation centre, which was also grant-aided by the Council on the same basis as
Blackfriars. This centre has been adapted to cater for recoverable patients who are capable
of simple industrial work and there is special emphasis on work routine and work tolerance,
with a view to the patients' eventual rehabilitation in the community. All patients taking
part in the work programme at the centre are paid by the hour at a uniform rate, the rate
varying according to the income to the centre from the remunerative work being done at
the time.
At the Blackfriars centre, which caters for the more withdrawn, long-term patients, the
emphasis is on group activities and resocialisation in the group, thus encouraging the
patients to live a fuller life outside the centre.
During 1961, 66 persons resident in the London area were admitted to these two centres.
At the end of the year there were 50 London patients on the registers, 42 having been
discharged during the year, 15 to take up employment or to attend government training
centres; 10 were admitted to hospital, 12 were self-discharged and five were discharged for
other reasons.
Social clubs—Since 1948 the Council has contributed 90 per cent. of the approved cost
of attendance of London patients at the psycho-therapeutic social clubs run by the Institute
of Social Psychiatry, of which at the end of 1961 there were nine in London, including a
drama group and a youth club. The average weekly attendance at these clubs was 18.
The clubs meet one evening a week under the guidance of a psychiatrist and a social therapist.
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