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In conjunction with the Education Department, arrangements are in hand for an
important innovation, namely the appointment to the Centre of a part-time teacher for
three sessions per week. This will enable trainees to continue their basic education
after leaving junior training schools, particular emphasis being placed on practical
matters such as telling the time, learning money values and shopping.
Residential Accommodation
Two patients were accommodated in hostels belonging to other local
authorities and three in hostels run by voluntary organizations.
During the year, the Ministry of Health approved plans for a hostel to be built
on the Brenthill Nursery site in Hanwell. This wil I provide 25 places for men and
women who are able to work in open industry or attend adult training centres. This
should be opened in 1968 and will remedy a deficiency in the Council's services.
Hospitals
The Borough is entirely within the catchment area of Leavesden Hospital at
Abbots Langley, near Watford, which accommodates both severely subnormal
children and adults. During the year, 18 patients were admitted to hospital, of these
15 were admitted informally. Obtaining hospital care remains a problem, particularly
when the disability is so great that the only satisfactory solution is permanent care
in hospital. The waiting list of such cases is 30 and many of these have been
waiting for years.
Short term admission is easier to obtain and does provide a measure of relief
for the famili es. It is at present the Council's policy that advantage should be taken
of the availability of short term care placements in the hospital caring for the
severely subnormal and if provision cannot be obtained in this way then by placement
in private establishments. During the year, arrangements were made through the
hospital for short term care of up to eight weeks for 32 patients and two patients were
accommodated in private establishments.
Voluntary Organizations
The Ealing Society for Mentally Handicapped Children is also an active
organization and, amongst its activities, it provides a sitters-in service to enable
parents of severely subnormal children to leave them at home under supervision. The
Society is also planning to build a youth centre on land provided by the Council.
Statistical information on the work of the mental health service is contained
in tables 6 and 7.
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