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Psychogeriatric Day Centre
The search for suitable accommodation for this project has at last met with success. Various
properties have been looked at with a view to establishing the pilot scheme and it will now be possible
with the co-operation of the Wood Green Old People's Welfare Committee to start such a scheme at
Woodside House with a small unit catering for twelve psychogeriatric patients. It is hoped that this
club for the senior citizens who are, or have been, mentally ill will be opened in April 1968.
Residential Accommodation for Longterm Subnormal Patients
35 patients were maintained by this Authority in residential homes during the year, the greater
number of whom are placed in the Brighton and Hove area where they are boarded out by the Guardianship
Society in private households. It has not been necessary for this Authority to make any compulsory
Guardianship placements; indeed, none has been made since the formation of the Borough.
Social Clubs for the Mentally Handicapped
The three clubs catering for mentally subnormal children are still very active. The "Roundabout
Club" has now settled into its new meeting place at the Hornsey Centre for Handicapped Children as
has the Golden Gate Club in their new premises at Lancastrian School. The "Doddy" Club for the
Educationally Subnormal Children has been accepting members of the subnormal range.
Hospital Placements for the Mentally Subnormal
Difficulties have again been experienced in the placing of mentally subnormal persons for
permanent care in the Catchment Area Hospitals. It was only possible for 1 placement at South
Ockendon. 6 placements were obtained at Harperbury Hospital. It will be seen from the tables set
out below that there were 9 persons in need of hospital care and a further 29 who, although in need of
hospital placements, were not considered to be so urgent.
This has been a year of great activity in the Mental Health field, work having commenced on the
Adult Training Centre, Hostel for Adult Subnormal Working Males, the finding of suitable accommodation
for Psychogeriatric Day Centre, the initial preparations of work for our Junior Training School, a year in
which we justifiably look back on the progress we have made but we must also look forward with
challenge to the future as the needs for mental health within the community will increase to growas
the policy of keeping people at home rather than in hospital becomes morewidely accepted.