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At the end of the year, the number of mentally subnormal persons maintained
in residential homes and hostels and in informal foster care was 52, including 10
children, three of whom were awaiting permanent hospital care.
Temporary Care
Short-term residential care of subnormal persons is arranged to offer relief
to parents and guardians, usually at holiday times to allow them to take a carefree
vacation. Twenty-two subnormal persons were admitted to hospital and two to
voluntary homes under this scheme.
The Northaw House Children's Hospital, near Potters Bar, provided by the
North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board, accepts mentally subnormal
children up to the age of five years. Seven of the hospital admissions were to this
hospital.
When the board announced during the year its intention to close Northaw
House and offer similar accommodation at Winifred House pre-convalescent
hospital for children, Barnet Gate, Arkley, Barnet, concern was widely expressed
at the possibility of fewer beds, when more are needed. Together with neighbouring
authorities the council made representations to the board and the Ministry of
Health against the closure of this hospital.
Holiday Camps
Summer camps for subnormal children and adults were held. The council
accepted financial responsibility in a certain proportion of cases for those attending
the camps. Families who were unable to meet the full cost contributed according
to an assessment scale.
Forty-three adults and 43 children went to camps at St. Mary's Bay Holiday
Camp, Romney Marsh, Kent, and the Suntrap Residential School, Hayling Island,
respectively.
RESEARCH
We continued to co-operate in an investigation into the incidence of certain
types of infection in mentally subnormal children initiated by Professor S. D. Elek,
of the Bacteriology Department of St. George's Hospital Medical School (University
of London), a number of parents of mentally handicapped children having given
consent for their children to participate.
No report has been made to date on this investigation.
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