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55
MENTAL HEALTH
Psychiatric Services
The psychiatric services depend to a great extent on a close
integration between hospital and community services, and a close liaison
has been established between general practitioners, hospitals and local
authority services. I tender my thanks to the consultant psychiatrists
and family doctors for their co-operation. Mental health social workers
attend regular conferences at Long Grove Hospital and are responsible
for psychiatric social work at six out-patient clinics at Kingston
Hospital under the direction of Dr. J. S. Bearcroft frcm Long Grove
Hospital and Dr. D. C. Dewar from Brookwood Hospital. Dr. Bearcroft
also serves as a co-opted member on the Health and Welfare Committee
and acts as psychiatric adviser to the medical officer of health and
assists in the appointment of mental health staff. Excellent relationships
have also been continued with Dr„ J. Crawford, physician superintendent
of Botleys Park Hospital, and Dr. B. H. Kirman, physician
superintendent of Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, Carshalton; both
these hospitals admit subnormal persons from the borough.
Staff
The establishment consists of a principal mental welfare officer,
Mr. E. V. Oram, and seven other mental health social workers, of whom
five were in office at the end of December. One of them, a former
psychiatric nurse, was seconded for one year's full time course leading
to the National Certificate in Social Work, in September.
A student seconded on a similar course at Crcydon Technical
College by another authority has been placed for part time practical
training under the supervision of the principal mental welfare officer.
The mental health social workers undertake psychiatric social
work in the community including admission to hospital under the Mental
Health Act, 1959.
Referrals for aftercare of discharged patients are received
from psychiatric hospitals and there is an increasing number of referrals
received directly from general practitioners for case work advice and
consultation. The families of discharged patients may also independently
seek the help of social workers.
The mental health social workers dealt with 528 patients. Of
these, 104 came from doctors, 127 from hospitals on discharge, 145 were
notified from the out-patient clinics, 11 from the Education Department,
20 from the police and courts within the borough, and 121 came from other
sources, i.e. welfare, other authorities, health visitors and relatives.
2644 domiciliary visits were made in addition to interviews at hospital
out-patient clinics.