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32
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Administration
The Medical Officer of Health is in administrative control, and the
Deputy and two Assistant Medical Officers of Health are approved for the
purpose of the Mental Health Act. Dr. J.D.W. Fisher, Consultant Psychiatrist
at Warlingham Park Hospital is Psychiatric Adviser to the Local
Health Authority and the Medical Director of their community mental health
services. Dr. B.W. Richards, Consultant Psychiatrist at St. Lawrence's
Hospital continues as adviser in mental subnormality.
My thanks are again due to medical colleagues both in hospitals and
general practice for their help and co-operation without which the continuing
successful operation and development of the Mental Health Services would
not be possible.
Voluntary Associations
Thanks are due to the increasing number of volunteers and voluntary
organisations who have given generously of time, effort and money during
the year to help the mentally handicapped and the mentally ill. The interest
and concern expressed in this very practical way is tremendously encouraging
and enables the scope and quality of the Mental Health Service to be greatly
extended.
Special mention must be made of The Croydon and District Society for
Mentally Handicapped Children, The Mental After-Care Association, The
Guardianship Society and The Croydon Association for Mental Health all of
whom have been very closely associated with the Mental Health Service and
with direct help to patients, but reference is also due to The Croydon Guild
of Social Service and to many other voluntary organisations and individuals
who give so wiilingly of time and resources to help Croydon patients.
The Croydon Volunteer Aid Project has continued, successfully during
the year, and it is hoped when this experiment is concluded to continue the
work as an established part of the Mental Health Service.
Through its residential homes the Mental After Care Association continues
to help many Croydon patients 27 of whom were resident in the
Association's Homes at the end of the year.