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
Bromley 1969
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bromley]
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63
SERVICES UNDER THE MENTAL HEALTH ACT, 1959
Sara Syrop, m.d.(warsaw), d.p.h., d.c.h., d.t.m. and h.
Senior Medical Officer
H. J. Vagg, m.r.s.h., m.i.s.w., m.b.a.s.w.
Principal Mental Welfare Officer
The pattern of presentation and lay-out follows closely the
Reports for previous years, the new developments receiving due
emphasis.
TABLE I
CASES IN COMMUNITY CARE SUPERVISED BY THE MENTAL HEALTH SECTION IN 1969 (Corresponding numbers for 1968 in brackets)
| Mental Illness | Elderly Mentally Infirm | Psychopathic Disorder | Sub-normality | Severe Sub-normality | Totals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Referrals | 437(366) | 63(32) | 17 (30) | 66 (62) | 26(10) | 609(500) |
| Total Cases at 31.12.69 | 432 (458) | 34 (28) | 11 (23) | 329 (309) | 181 (186) | 987(1,004) |
The upward trend in new referrals continues to be evident and
this year the increase amounts to over 20%.
At the same time the total sum of cases receiving community
care remains constant. These two facts point to good "turnover".
The appreciable size of the turnover reflects two simultaneous
trends. Firstly the enhanced rate of discharge from community
care is due to accelerated rate of cure—in this acceleration the
community services play an important role. Secondly, the acceleration
of upward trend in referrals reflects the quality of the service
and the demand for it. Taking both factors together one can
justifiably assume that increasingly the patients with mental
problems of less florid and overt nature are now coming to our
notice. The Service's contribution to prevention is increasing all
the time.