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52
Once a month a local Clergyman holds a short service during the lunch
time for the patients attending the Centre, after which he spends the
remainder of the afternoon with the patients.
During the year a tape recorder was presented for use at the Centre
by the Ward Trust.
During the year 99 people were shown over this Centre, including
visitors from America and Trinidad.
Day Centre for the Younger Mentally Ill.—The younger
patients from Harrow still continue to travel to the Day Centre run by the
London Borough of Brent at Belton Hall, Bertie Road, Willesden,
N.W.10. During 1966 the total number of patients referred to this centre
was 9. At the end of the year the number of patients from Harrow actually
in attendance there was 5.
Advice was received from the Minister of Health during the year that
he had agreed to include this Authority's project for a similar 30 place
centre being included on the list of schemes for which he hoped to be able
to recommend loan sanction during 1968/69. It is envisaged that such a
centre will cater for the needs of two main groups of mentally ill patients:—
(a) Hospital long stay patients on discharge.
(b) Unemployed persons residing in the community.
The Centre will be the first step towards rehabilitation and resocialisation,
thus encouraging patients towards a full community life by providing a
work situation for them. To this end group activities would be arranged to
encourage the patients to return, if possible, to work in the community. A
wide range of crafts will be available as well as art classes, music, drama
and mime to foster movement and communication. As the need arises
patients will be seen by a Social Worker and the Disablement Resettlement
Officer and a decision reached regarding future placement in one of the
following:—
(i) Industrial Resettlement Unit.
(ii) Industrial Therapy Organisation Thames Ltd.
(iii) Industry or Commerce.
Mental Nursing Homes.—There is one mental nursing home
within the Borough which is registered with this Authority and accommodates
47 patients. This home has been visited during the year and found to
be satisfactory.
Community Care—Mentally Subnormal
The total number of subnormal and severely subnormal patients under
community care at the end of the year was 341, 161 females and 180 males.
(Table II.) The number of cases referred for care during the year was 60
(Table IV.)