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25
Mental Health Service.
The mental health services are integrated with the other health
services established under the National Health Service Act. The duties
of the local health authority include responsibility for the initial care and
conveyance to hospital of patients who fall to be dealt with under the
Lunacy and Mental Treatments Acts, and for the ascertainment and
community care of mental defectives. The Health Committee of the
County Council is responsible for the mental health functions of the
Authority.
The County was divided for these functions into the same 10 areas
as for the administration of the delegated health services. In November
a re-organisation was made. Harrow with Acton. Wembley and Willesden
form the central division which is served by Shenley Hospital. The
Mental Welfare Officer. Mr. W. J. Pedel, and other officers now work at
Winkworth Hall, Chevening Road, Kilburn, N.W.6 (Tel. No.: Ladbroke
2411).
Persons in need of Care and Attention.
It is the responsibility of the Hospital Boards to provide residential
accommodation for those persons needing the special medical or nursing
care which can be provided only in hospitals or similar institutions. On
the other hand, the National Assistance Act makes it the duty of the
County Council to provide residential accommodation for persons who
by reason of age, infirmity or other circumstances are in need of care and
attention which is not otherwise available to them.
For administrative purposes, the County is divided into the same
10 areas as for the County Council functions under Part III of the
National Health Service Act. Acting under the supervision of the Chief
Welfare Officer for the County there is a Welfare Officer in each area;
the one for this district is Mr. H. G. Plummer, 48, Station Road, Harrow
(Tel. No.: Harrow 1252).
To provide the necessary accommodation the County Council has
taken over a number of large houses such as Oxhey Grove in this district.
In addition, persons are accepted at such places as Redhill House.
The boundary dividing the persons falling into the one group from
those in the other is very indefinite, more particularly in the case of the
aged. The Ministry now distinguish the sick and infirm as: "Sick—and
therefore proper to the board—patients requiring continued medical
attention or supervision and nursing care. This would include very old
people who, though not suffering from any particular disease, are confined
to bed oil account of extreme weakness." "Infirm—and therefore
proper to the local authority—persons who are normally able to get up
and who could attend meals either in the dining-room or in a nearby dayroom.
This class would include those who need a certain amount of help
from the staff in dressing, in toilet, or in moving from room to room, and
also those who, from time to time—e.g., in bad weather—may need to
spend a few days in bed."
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