View report page

51
to the figures available from other parts of the country.
It is irrelevant to point out that these admissions constitute only a
fraction of the total hospital admissions. The Borough has now a
well established psychiatric follow-up service and many informal
admissions take place either after or in lieu of an attendance at
Psychiatric Outpatients.
Short-Term Plans
Following the concept that a full range of Mental Health
establishments is necessary for the service to function well, the
immediate priorities include a Sheltered Workshop and/or Work
Centre, a purpose-built Adult Training Centre and a long term
Hostel for the mentally ill. Every effort will be made for the full
range of establishments to be operational within the Council's
10 Year Plan.
Long-Term Policy
Since prevention (see paragraph 2) would always be the keynote
in mental as in physical health problems, it is hoped that
eventually the service will concentrate most of its efforts to this end.
Secondary Prevention
Recognition of early signs of mental break down with appropriate
referral for treatment is already carried out by the Section
with the help of other agencies.
Tertiary Prevention
Lessening the effect of mental disorder on the patient and his
family is an important part of the Mental Welfare Officers' day to
day work.
Primary Prevention
Promoting good mental health and lowering the incidence of
mental disorder is as yet a vast largely unchartered ground. While
the theoretical principles are being worked out the techniques are
still in the experimental stage.
The Service looks forward to the time when a fully comprehensive
local health authority programme has been formulated and
implemented.