London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1961

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

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In addition, the Council gives financial assistance towards the cost of two clubs run by
psychiatric hospitals for patients in their catchment areas (average weekly attendance at
these is approximately 18) and to a club run by the psychiatric department of one of the
London teaching hospitals, which has a weekly attendance of 40 and above. Another
psychiatric hospital holds its club in one of the Council's health centres, free of charge.
St. Olave's psychiatric day hospital, which is run in conjunction with the Council, has its
own associated social club with an average weekly attendance of 30.
The Council runs two social clubs of its own, at each of which the average weekly
attendance is about 15. One is in division 9 where there is no other club, the other is
run in association with the Council's rehabilitation centre at Clifton Lodge.
The existing clubs are well attended and, although they are all able to accommodate
more patients, there would appear to be scope for new clubs in areas where, as yet, no
clubs exist. The present clubs can cater for a maximum of 695 patients weekly.
Psychiatric day hospitals—The Council co-operated with the South-East Metropolitan
regional hospital board, the Bermondsey and Southwark hospitals group and the Cane
Hill hospital management committee in the establishment, from 1 July, 1960, of a psychiatric
day hospital at St. Olave's hospital. The Council assumed responsibility for the provision
of occupational therapy for those patients in the day hospital who would benefit
from it. This entailed the appointment of an occupational therapist, the provision of
equipment and materials and the attendance of a social worker. The occupational
activities were organised on a wide basis to include, among other things, handicrafts, group
discussions and music appreciation. In addition, the Council makes an annual grant
towards recreational activities of the patients, such as tennis, net-ball and ballroom dancing,
which are considered to be of a therapeutic nature.
It is reported that experience of the working of the day hospital has been very encouraging.
It has been possible to treat all types of psychiatric illness in patients who have been able
to travel daily from home and it has been found that a number of patients, who would
otherwise have needed in-patient treatment, have been catered for satisfactorily as day
patients.
A further day hospital for psychiatric patients was established at St. Clement's hospital,
towards the running of which the Council's services have contributed.
Experimental scheme of rehabilitation—In 1960 the Council agreed to give substantial
financial support to the Institute for Group and Society Development, to undertake a
limited experiment in health division 4 in establishing community care services for patients
discharged from Long Grove hospital. This experimental scheme consisted of preparing
patients in hospital against the time of their discharge and in preparing their relatives and
other members of the community to receive them back. Group sessions with patients and
relatives, at which hospital staff (medical, social worker and nursing) joined in, were held
initially at the hospital and later at a centre in the catchment area. Rehabilitated ex-patients
and their relatives were enlisted to help in the scheme by providing temporary foster homes,
acting as escorts, joining in social activities etc. The experimental scheme proved to be of
great value in pointing the way in which group therapy could be developed as an aid in the
rehabilitation of hospital patients. Towards the end of 1961 it was decided, however, that
it would not be right to continue the inevitable overlapping of functions with the Council's
own divisional mental health team which the scheme entailed. It was therefore agreed that
from 1 June, 1962 the development of the scheme would be carried on within the framework
of the Council's divisional mental health services.
Occupation and instruction at home—A limited experiment has been conducted for some
time in division 9, utilising the part-time services of an occupational therapist who had
previously been employed solely on work with tuberculous patients. The therapist devoted
three sessions a week to the home teaching and occupation of mentally ill patients and has
reported progress with chronic patients. The experiment is reported to have fulfilled much
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