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16. MENTAL HEALTH
The Council is responsible under the Mental Health Act, 1959, for the provision of
community care for the mentally ill and mentally subnormal. One may, therefore, consider
mental disability under these two separate headings.
MENTAL ILLNESS
Social Work
The mentally ill living in the community require support which is provided by a team
of Mental Health Social Workers who are also responsible for the statutory provisions
required for the compulsory admission of patients to hospital. A twenty-four hour
service is provided and outside office hours contact may be made through the switch-board
at King Edward Memorial Hospital.
A useful feature of the arrangements is two joint appointments of social workers with
Springfield Hospital and similarly with Leavesden Hospital. These joint appointments
ensure a close liaison between the hospitals and the community from which they draw their
patients.
Greenford Mental Health Centre
This Centre provides a period of rehabilitation for patients who are making the
sometimes difficult transition from hospital to community. Close links have been forged
with the Disablement Resettlement Officer and the Industrial Therapy Organisation in order
to deal adequately with matters of employment and rehabilitation. During the past year
thirty-five new admissions were made to the Health Centre.
Hostels
The borough has no hostel for the mentally ill and it makes use of the facilities
provided by other Authorities and by Voluntary Organisations. At the end of the year
thirty patients were accommodated in this way. Ealing Association for Mental Health
provides bed-sitting rooms for three persons who have been recently discharged from
hospital but are not yet ready to settle in the community.
Hospitals
Ealing is served by three Psychiatric Hospitals: Springfield Hospital, Upper Tooting,
(Ealing area), Shenley Hospital, St. Albans, (Acton area) and St. Bernard's Hospital
(Southall area). The difficulties which are caused by having three different hospital
catchment areas in the borough have been referred to in previous years. It is hoped that
future plans will overcome these problems.
MENTAL SUBNORMALITY
Advisory and Diagnostic Services
Sessions are held by the Principal Medical Officer (Mental Health) and by a Consultant
Psychiatrist. Evening discussions with parents and home visits by the Principal Medical
Officer are also valuable, and the Mental Health Social Workers play a further part.
Pre-School Provision
The day nurseries and playgroups admit some of the very young mentally handicapped
children which relieves the strain on parents who normally have to look after their
handicapped children during the day.
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