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The source of referrals is changing; whereas previously some 50% were from
General Practitioners and 28% from other sources, the present percentages are 33 and
40 respectively. This is due to a number of factors of which direct referral to
hospitals by doctors, including General Practitioners and the Principal Medical
Officer, as is usual in physical illness, is one very welcome trend.
Day Centres - Elderly Mentally Infirm
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Day Centre facilities for the elderly mentally infirm remained a high priority
in the plans for the development of the service, and it had been hoped that in
addition to extending the Centre at Park House Hostel which commenced as an
experiment in 1966, a further 45 place purpose built Day Centre would have been
completed by 1969 to supplement the service. Unfortunately, there have been setbacks
because the far-sighted plans of the Council have a high therapeutic content,
which means that negotiations have to go on with the North West Metropolitan
Regional Hospital Board to reach agreement on the sharing of costs, with all the
difficulties that ensue with the present divided Health Service.
Social Clubs
The two social clubs for the mentally ill are organised and run by the Department's
Officers who are also greatly assisted by the local voluntary organisation
dealing with mental health activities. It is felt that there is also a considerable
need for social clubs for the mentally handicapped and educationally subnormal,
and much is being done by excellent local voluntary associations.
Park House Hostel
Applications for admission to the hostel continued at a steady rate throughout
the year, and the fact that the hostel did not have all 30 places occupied was mainly
due to the criteria for admission. Potential residents must be ready to return to
their previous employment or be ready to seek employment; thus the danger of the
hostel becoming silted with residents unable to progress to unsupervised accommodation
is minimised and, more 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. However, an increasing burden is thrown on
staff by the greater degree of disturbance found in patients referred for after-care
nowadays. Modern methods of treatment and the increase of local authority hostels
generally, probably account for the fall in the numbers of patients simply requiring
the facilities of a "half way house".
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