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 1962

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

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There was an overall increase in total referrals during 1962, from 8,258 to 9,801; mentally
ill persons referred with a view to hospital admission increased by 540, mentally ill persons
for community care by 760 (a 50 per cent. increase) and subnormal patients by 243. The
principal sources of referral were, for the first category, general practitioner; for the second
psychiatric hospitals (referrals from this source more than doubled in 1962, from 398 in
1961 to 812); and for subnormal patients, the education service.

Table: Table (ii)— Initial action and final disposal of mentally ill persons referred to mental welfare officers with a view to removal to hospital

Table (ii)— Initial action and final disposal of mentally ill persons referred to mental welfare officers with a view to removal to hospital

Initial actionFinal disposal
No.%No.%
Informal admission1,123(899)17.9(15.6)2,806(2,306)44.5(40.1)
Compulsory admission: For observation (sec. 25)989(903)15.7(15.7)----
Emergency admission for observation (sec. 29)2,017(1,841)32.2(31.9)----
For treatment (sec. 26)136(116)2.2(2.0)489(497)7.8(8.6)
By police (sec. 136)139(232)2.2(4.0)----
Court order208(147)3.3(2.6)209(156)3.3(2.7)
Absent from hospital without leave (sec. 40)7(3)0.1(0.1)10(5)0.2(0.1)
Psychiatric out-patient clinic or day hospital198(170)3.1(3.0)199(170)3.2(3.0)
General ward for physical care59(43)0.9(0.8)79(66)1.3(1.2)
Community care from general practitioner, Welfare dept., etc.204(109)3.2(1.9)205(110)3.3(1.9)
Other cases, including no further action1,210(1,287)19.2(22.4)2,275*(2,314)36.1(40.2)
Not known----18(126)0.3(2.2)
6,290 (5,750)100.0 (100.0)6,290 (5,750)100.0 (100.0)
*Includes 977 (935) discharged after a period of observation and 80 (68) deaths.

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The pattern of action taken on referral and the final disposal of these patients remains
much the same as in 1961, except that there were proportionately more cases admitted
informally than in 1961 both on initial action and on final disposal. This aspect is dealt
with in more detail in table (iii).

Table: Table (iii)— Hospital admissions dealt with by mental welfare officers informally or under sees.25, 26and29of the Mental Health Act,1959

Table (iii)— Hospital admissions dealt with by mental welfare officers informally or under sees.25, 26and29of the Mental Health Act,1959

Initial disposal to hospitalFinal disposal to hospital
Under 65 years65 years and overTotalUnder 65 years65 years and overTotal
No.%No.%No.%No.%No.%No.%
Informal admission840 (668)24.0 (22.0)283 (229)37.1 (32.4)1,123 (897)26.4 (23.9)2,184 (1,783)82.6 (80.0)622 (515)95.2 (91.3)2,806 (2,298)85.1 (82.2)
Compulsory admission: For observation (sec. 25)762 (685)21.8 (22.5)227 (215)29.8 (30.5)989 (900)23.2 (24.0)------------
Emergency admission (sec. 29)1,774 (1,583)50.6 (52.1)243 (250)31.8 (35.4)2,017 (1,833)47.2 (49.0)------------
For treatment (sec. 26)126 (103)3.6 (3.4)10 (12)1.3 (1.7)136 (115)3.2 (3.1)458 (447)17.4 (20.0)31 (49)4.8 (8.7)489 (496)14.9 (17.8)
Total3,502 (3,039)100.0 (100.0)763 (706)100.0 (100.0)4,265 (3,745)100.0 (100.0)2,642 (2,230)100.0 (100.0)653 (564)100.0 (100.0)3,295 (2,794)100.0 (100.0)