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MENTAL ILLNESS
The London Borough of Enfield is within the catchment area of Claybury and
Friern Hospitals, which admit patients requiring hospital treatment for mental
disorder. The North Middlesex Hospital provides psychiatric beds in a recently
modernised and re-equipped unit to which suitable patients are admitted for shortterm
observation and treatment.
Out-patient clinics are held at the North Middlesex, Chase Farm, Highlands
and the War Memorial Hospitals.
A 24-hour mental health community service is provided throughout the year
by the council.
The demand for services is increasing as residents of the borough become
more and more aware of the facilities provided for people in need of this type of
help. The department has established close liaison with the other social work
departments and the consultants at the local hospitals. Requests for social histories
for patients attending out-patient psychiatric clinics continue to increase. Staff also
attend ward meetings at the various hospitals and, in this way, can provide a
continuous link between the patient, hospital and community.
Domiciliary Service
Persons who are, or who have been, suffering from mental disorder are
referred from a number of sources to the Health Department for care and support
in their own homes. In many cases it is found that not only the patient but also
his family requires support. The majority of the cases are referred by general
practitioners, who recognise the early symptoms of emotional and psychiatric
disorders. Psychiatric help and advice given by the mental welfare officers, sometimes
coupled with out-patient psychiatric treatment, often enables the patient to
remain in the community and prevents the necessity for his admission to hospital.
A social history provided by a mental welfare officer on a patient attending
out-patient clinic for the first time is desirable. An arrangement exists with the
North Middlesex Hospital for the referral of patients to us for this purpose and 56
new cases were referred during the year. In addition 100 social reports were supplied
to Friern and Claybury Hospitals on new admissions.
The demand for psycho-geriatric admissions for elderly confused patients
remained high and there is delay in arranging such admissions. Domiciliary assistance
is provided for the patient and his family during the waiting period.
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