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Hospital placements for the Mentally Subnormal
Last year in my annual report I commented on the difficulties which had been experienced in
placing mentally subnormal persons for permanent care in our catchment hospitals. This situation
has shown no signs of improvement again this year. It was not possible to place any patients at
South Ockendon, although Dr. Dutton did find placement for three children in other hospitals, and six
placements were obtained at Harperbury Hospital. It will be seen from the tables set out below that
there were a further 8 persons in need of hospital care, and 34, though in need of hospital placement,
were not considered to be so urgent.
SERVICES FOR THE MENTALLY ILL
Psycho-geriatric Day Centre
This year saw the opening of a pilot scheme at Woodside House for twelve psycho-geriatric
patients. Not long after this facility was provided, it became obvious that it would be necessary to
arrange transport for some of these elderly persons. Arrangements were therefore made for the
British Red Cross to provide ambulance transport on four days of the week. This pilot scheme has
proved most successful; it meant that these elderly persons have gained a purpose in life. They
come to the Centre daily and are provided with occupational therapy, a hot mid-day meal, and
company and friendship. If it were not for this Centre some, if not all, of these patients would
possibly have to go into hospital, but the provision of such a centre means that the elderly mentally
disturbed patient can carry on living at home and yet the tensions can to a degree be taken off the
family. The wife of one of the club members told the supervisor that if it was not for the relief she
gained by her husband coming to the Centre every day, she would have left him. It is hoped that
this scheme will be able to be extended in the not too distant future.
Social Work
This expansion in facilities has brought new commitments to the social workers. It is
interesting to note that mental health community care is increasing. The number of persons referred
during the year for help of one kind or another, and from a wide variety of sources including
hospitals, family doctors, patients themselves or by their relatives, has continued to increase. An
excellent continuity of care link exists between the hospitals which serve Haringey and the mental
health officers who have every facility made available to them to attend at hospital and ward
meetings. This gives them the opportunity of keeping in close contact with those patients they have
previously admitted to hospital for treatment while they are still there so that any subsequent aftercare
support will be made easier.
Psychiatric Social Clubs
The "Oakleaf" Club at Ferme Park Baptist Church, N.8., and the Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Association's evening club now at Earlsmead School, N.15., continue to supply a wide range of social
activities for their members and both are well attended, and include among their members those who
go from the community, some in-patients from Claybury, Friern and other Psychiatric Hospitals, so
that their links with the "outside world" may be strengthened.
Day Centre
I am indebted to Mr. John Wilder of the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association for the following
report:-
"Community Care of the mentally ill has made further progress in Haringey since the last annual
report. The Mental Welfare Department of the Borough together with the Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Association have continued to develop this vital work.
The Day Centre in Mitchley Road has been full to capacity throughout most of the year with over
4,000 attendances. 56 Haringey residents and 19 Enfield residents having made up the membership,
and the cost has been shared, as previously, on a per capita basis. Of these members. 13 returned
to full employment during the year; one recovered sufficiently to have her child home from care;
another got well and married; and a third returned to Cyprus; nine had to return to hospital; and ten
discontinued coming. The work has been interesting and varied, and members' skills and speed of
work have increased noticeably. The P.R.A. Industrial Education Unit in Bethnal Green is available
for Haringey patients to move on to from the Day Centre, and some have done this in order to gain
workshop skills before taking up full employment.
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