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in Orpington has gone from strength to strength working very much
on the same lines. Not only patients who remain in the community
are befriended but relatives are encouraged and helped to visit
patients in hospital.
The work of the Association is most valuable in breaking down
the barriers between those who are sick and those who are not.
Here again a most harmonious relationship exists between the
voluntary agency and the Mental Health Association Services.
Bromley Society for Mentally Handicapped Children
The Society whose membership consists of parents with a
mentally handicapped child has been as always very active. In
1968 the most welcome help took the form of financial aid to
parents in respect of fees at the Special Play Groups.

The provision of short term care for those suffering from
mental handicap is an essential part of community services. Such
period of care can be planned well ahead to provide relief for the
worn-out mother and enables the family to have a holiday,
untrammelled by the restrictions imposed by their handicapped
member. Short term care is frequently required as an emergency
measure—when the mother is taken ill or other serious family crisis
occurs. In fact in many instances it is short term care rather than
other supportive measures which enables the families to go on
caring for the mentally subnormal in their midst.
Although the Ministry of Health as far back as 1952 charged
the Hospitals with providing short term vacancies, the Hospitals
have found it increasingly difficult to meet the demand and consequently
fewer and fewer applications for hospital admissions are
successful.
At the same time the level of short term "private" placements
arranged by the Department remains fairly constant. This again is
due to shortage of hostel accommodation throughout the country.
It is envisaged that the provision of our own hostels, mentioned
earlier in the report will help to solve the problem of short term as
well as long term care.