London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kingston upon Thames 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kingston-upon-Thames]
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Fellowship, Spelthorpe, S.O.S. Society and Mental After Care Association. During the year financial responsibility was accepted for hostel accommodation of 10 patients as follows:
| Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheshire Foundation | 1 | 1 |
| Richmond Fellowship | 3 | 1 |
| Spelthorpe | - | 1 |
| S.O.S. Society | 1 | - |
| Mental After Care Association | - | 2 |
Sooial Club
Membership is composed of former patients, mainly housewives,
who meet weekly for social activities and for discussion of personal
and social problems.
Activities have included Christmas and New Year parties,
record sessions, play reading, film slides, games, whist drives and
group discussions.
Outings have been arranged to the Wimbledon Pantomime, Kingston
Museum and Hampton Court Gardens.
Accommodation difficulties restricted development and the
club has had to function in a room, when available, at Roselands Clinic,
Maiden. It is anticipated that more adequate premises will be available
in 1967.
MENTAL SUBNORMALITY
At the end of 1966 there were about 420 mentally subnormal
persons known to the department whose home addresses were within the
boundaries of the borough. Of these, 205 were reported as receiving
hospital care and 215 were living within the community. Of the latter
number 73 were attending the training centre.
Hospital Care
The borough is within the catchment area of Botleys Park
Hospital to whom application is made for the admission of all adult
mentally subnormal patients. Children are referred either to Botleys
Park Hospital or to Queen Mary's Hospital for Children, Carshalton, which
also has provision for children with psychiatric problems or multiple
handicaps.
Community Care
Visiting of subnormal patients is carried out by the mental