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important the residents are at a stage where they can cope with some of the demands which
will be made on them in the community. Residents who rehabilitate to a point where they
are able to leave the hostel are encouraged to return at intervals and have the occasional
meal thereby maintaining a useful link and means of support.
Close social work support was given by senior members of the Department's social work
staff, and residents who had already had the services of a Social Worker within the
hospital or placing Authority were encouraged to maintain such contact.
Ideally the next step forward from a hostel or indeed even from a hospital should be a
'group home' and it is hoped the setting up of such an establishment will be included in the
Council's long term plans for future development.
Hospital Services
Napsbury Hospital remains the sole psychiatric hospital providing cover for the mentally
ill in the Borough. The hospital also provides excellent out-patient facilities at the two
local General Hospitals, this service being of particular advantiage since Napsbury is
situated some considerable distance outside the catchment area which presents difficulties
in arranging early referral and maintaining contact with former patients. It is hoped that in
time it will be possible to set up localised psychiatric services which will alleviate if not
resolve problems of distance, time and transport.
The Mental Health Social Workers regularly attended meetings with the consultants at
Napsbury and took part in general case conferences. This enables ease of admission work,
follow up of patients and thus making for good co-ordination between all the services.
Preventative Work
On the medical side the Principal Medical Officer conducted seminars for pupil midwives
in the district on 'psychiatric problems of pregnancy and puerperium', and gave courses of
lectures on mental health to the local detachment of the British Red Cross. In the field of
addiction, liaison was maintained with other bodies involved with this problem, and the
Principal Medical Officer joined the Drug Discussion Group at the King Edward VII
Hospital Centre.
It will be appreciated that all Mental Health Social Workers are involved with drug
dependency in their day to day work and have formal or informal contact with other agencies.
Community Care of the Subnormal and Severely Subnormal
Each year a great deal of thought is given to the type of community care service which
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