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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Guardianship and informal foster care
At the end of 1965 there were 4 patients under the Guardianship of the Council.
There were also 12 under informal foster care arrangements, in homes or hostels run
by voluntary societies and private homes. In order to avoid formal guardianship procedure
informal placements are made wherever practicable. The Guardianship Society,
Hove, is most helpful in assisting in the placement of patients in suitable homes.
Admissions to hospital
The following table shows the number of admissions which have taken place from 1st April, 1965, to the 31st December, 1965, all of which were on an informal basis:
| Subnormal | Severely Subnormal | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 16 | Under 16 ( | Over 16 | Under 16 | ||||||
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | ||
| Normansfield Hospital | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Botleys Park Hospital | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 2 |
| Queen Mary's Hospital | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| St. Ebbas Hospital | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 |
| Total | 1 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | 4 |
The number of patients awaiting admission to psychiatric hospitals for the subnormal at the end of the year was as follows :
| Subnormal | Severely Subnormal | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 16 | Under 16 | Over 16 | Under 16 | ||||||
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | ||
| In urgent need of hospital care | — | — | — | — | 1 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 14 |
| Not in urgent need of hospital care | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Total | — | — | — | — | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 20 |
Temporary Care
One way in which the parents can be given a measure of relief is for the Borough
to arrange short stay care for periods of up to eight weeks in psychiatric hospitals or
arrangements may be made with voluntary societies etc. for placement in private homes.
During 1965 arrangements were made for 9 patients to be sent to Regional Hospital
Board Hospitals; one patient was accommodated in a privately run establishment.
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