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120
MENTAL HEALTH ACT, 1959
Proposals Approved by the Minister of Health under
Section 20 of the National Health Service Act, 1946 for
the Provision of Mental Health Services under Section 28
of that Act.
General
(1) These proposals replace all existing proposals approved by
the Minister relating to the prevention of mental illness, the
care of persons suffering from mental illness or mental defectiveness,
and the after-care of such persons under Section 28 of
the National Health Service Act, 1946, but existing proposals
for carrying out duties under the Lunacy and Mental Treatment
Acts, 1890 to 1930 and the Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913 to 1938
will continue in operation until the relevant provisions of
those Acts are replaced by the provisions of the Mental Health
Act, 1959 on dates appointed by the Minister by Order under
Section 153 of the Mental Health Act, 1959, when the proposals
set out below will become effective in substitution.
(2) The Corporation propose to make appropriate arrangements for
the provision of services to meet the needs of mentally disordered
persons living in the community and to make the services
known to and available to those who are in need of them.
Organisation and Staff of the Services
(3) The Corporation's present arrangements are as follows:-
Acting under fully delegated powers the Health Committee
deals directly with mental health matters and includes among its
co-opted members the Medical Superintendent of Warlingham Park
Hospital, the mental hospital serving Croydon. The Medical
Officer of Health, who is also the Principal School Medical
Officer, is in administrative control and the Deputy and two
Assistant Medical Officers of Health are approved for duties
under the Mental Deficiency Acts. There are five Duly Authorised
Officers with one acting as a Co-ordinating Officer for mental
deficiency duties and two clerks.
(4) Other mental health facilities available in the Borough are
provided by the Hospital Management Committee of Warlingham Park
Hospital and include numerous adult out-patient clinics in general
hospitals, psychotherapeutic outpatient group meetings,
psychiatric outpatient social clubs and a day-treatment centre.
Psychiatrists from the mental hospital conduct regular group
discussion meetings with the Mental Welfare and Health Visitor
staffs of the local health authority.