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
Richmond upon Thames 1965
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]
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Neighbourly Help Service
The neighbourly help service operated within the Borough has proved successful.
Between 1st April, 1965 and the 31st December, 1965, 40 patients (mainly elderly
over 65 years of age) received help under this scheme, and at 31st December, 28 persons
were being assisted.
Good neighbours are paid between 10/- and £2 per week according to the help
given by way of shopping, cleaning, preparing meals, lighting fires, etc.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Whereas at the 1st April, 1965, some of the new London Boroughs were presented
with highly developed and well organised community care services for the mentally
disordered, including junior training schools, adult training centres, hostels, day centres,
etc., the facilities transferred varied considerably from authority to authority. The
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames was unfortunate inasmuch as no establishments
for the subnormal, severely subnormal, or the mentally ill were transferred by
the former Middlesex County Council or the Surrey County Council. It is necessary,
therefore, for the borough to arrange and pay for placements either in other authorities'
establishments or in establishments run by voluntary organisations.
Mental Illness
The Borough is served by two psychiatric hospitals for the mentally ill as follows :
Banstead Hospital, Sutton, Surrey. (Districts served: Richmond and Barnes).
Springfield Hospital, Beechcroft Road, Upper Tooting, S.W.17. (Districts served :
Twickenham, Teddington and Hampton).
The following table shows the number of patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals under the Mental Health Act during the year: —
| Section | M | F | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Section 5 | 16 | 17 | 33 |
| Section 25 | 14 | 15 | 29 |
| Section 26 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Section 29 | 33 | 45 | 78 |
| Section 60 | 2 | — | 2 |
| Total | 66 | 81 | 147 |
Every effort is made to admit persons to hospital informally and it is disappointing
that only 22% were so admitted. It is hoped that with the increasing public awareness
of mental ill health that the need for formal action under the Mental Health Act, 1959
will diminish.
Co-operation with the hospitals providing psychiatric cover for the borough is
considered essential and an effective liaison has been arranged by the attendance of
mental welfare officers at the outpatient clinics at the West Middlesex and Richmond
Royal Hospitals and at ward conferences at Banstead and Springfield Hospitals. Not
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