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84
Of the above cases, on 1/1/52, 495 were inmates at Runwell Hospital and
14 in other institutions,, During the year, 187 were admitted to Runwell
and 14 to other hospitals, 165 were discharged from Runwell and 9 from
other Institutions, 42 of the deaths occured in Runwell and 3 elsewhere and
on 31/12/52 the cases were accommodated as follows:- 476 Runwell and 15
other hospitals.
The Mental Health Service has gradually broadened its basis of operation.,
The duly authorized officers in liaison with the child guidance team,
medical staff and health visitors all have a part to play in educating the
family or individuals in mental health, and supporting those households
threatened by the shadow of mental breakdown,,
They deal with every type of case from the young pre-school child with
neurotic fears induced by wrong handling, to the old man with senile decrepitude
and insidious mental deterioration.
They have won high praise from the general practitioners in their
handling of mental cases and for the willing assistance in making all
necessary preparation for removal of persons to hospital. Such a simple
statement gives little indication of the difficulties often to be surmounted
before hospital placement is effected,, But the D.A.o. Is not deterred by
difficulties. His lodestone is "the welfare of his patient" and many
families and doctors in East Ham will testify to his unshaken determination
to follow this course.
TABLE 40
DULY AUTHORISED OFFICERS
DETAILS OF VISITS, ETC., 1952
Mental Deficiency Acts
1913 - 38
Lunacy and Mental
Treatment Acts
Grand
Total
of
visits
and
attendances
Guardianship
Statutory
Supervision
Friendly Care
Home reports for
patients detained
in institutions
Occupation
Centre
Total visits or
attendances
Patients reported
to be in need of
treatment
After-Care
Park View Therapeutic
Social Club
Total visits or
attendances
I
No. of visits and
attendances
38
l,423
88
206
102
1,857
1,392
854
85
2,331
41,188
SECTION 29 - HOME HELP SERVICE.
The functions of this medico-social service have now crystallised more
or less into an ancillary service for the care of old people, for of 738
cases to which a home help was sent, 469 ( 64 per cent) were aged persons.
The old people rely implicitly on the home help for cleaning, washing,
and attention to many of their physical comforts as well. Whenever
possible the help also prepares a meal for the recipient of the servic.
It is to be noted with great regret that as the home help service has
progressed, the amount of assistance given to the old people by relatives,
neighbours and friends has diminished. This callousness and indifference
Is a corollary of the 'welfare state' which demonstrates the loss of filial