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mittee on 14th June, 1970. The ceremony was followed by a successful
chicken barbecue organised by the Harrow Association for Mental Health,
with whom close links are maintained.
The Centre is opened Monday to Friday inclusive 9.00 a.m.—5 p.m.
with the exception of Bank Holidays, and is the first stage towards
rehabilitation and re-socialisation, thus encouraging patients towards
resuming a full life in the community and to this end group activities are
arranged.
The work of the Centre is of an occupational therapy nature and
includes a kitchen as an aid in rehabilitating patients in household
management. Close liaison is maintained with the local catchment hospital
and a psychiatrist from the hospital takes a group therapy session at the
Centre once a week, and at which the Supervisor of the Centre and one of
this Authority's mental welfare officers also attend.
Many of the patients have progressed to employment, some through
the assistance of the Disablement Re-settlement Officer whilst others have
taken up part-time jobs while still continuing to attend the Centre. Since
September 1970, six patients have been encouraged to embark on courses
of further education to gain additional qualifications or develop specific
skills. A number of outings have taken place, mainly to local factories and
places of interest e.g. the Stock Exchange, St. Paul's, etc.
During 1970, 128 patients (36 men and 92 women) were referred for
admission. Of these 38 (12 men and 26 women) were from mental hospitals,
67 (17 men and 50 women) from social workers, 18 (5 men and 13 women)
from general practitioners, 3 women from general hospitals and 2 men
from other sources.
The number of patients discharged from the Centre during the year
was 61 (21 men and 40 women). Of these, 5 (2 men and 3 women) were
admitted to mental hospitals, 2 women admitted to general hospitals 17
(8 men and 9 women) refused to continue to attend, 2 women improved
or left the district, 3 women were transferred to other establishments, 1
patient died, 4 (1 man and 3 women) discharged for other reasons and 27
(10 men and 17 women) either resumed full or part-time employment.
The total number of patients on the register at the end of the year
was 67 (15 men and 52 women) and there were 7 patients awaiting
admission.
Some 158 visitors were shown over the Centre during the year.
Boarding Out Scheme
Under this scheme, suitable lodgings are found in the community for
those persons who it is felt are capable of fending for themselves provided
adequate social work support is given. Rents up to £6.6.0 per week