London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Richmond upon Thames 1966

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]

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Mental Illness
The Borough continues to be 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, Hampton and Hampton Wick).

The following table shows the number of patients admitted to psychiatric hospitals under the Mental Health Act during the year:

SectionMFTotal
* Section 529 (16)38 (17)67 (33)
Section 2518 (14)35 (15)53 (29)
Section 2610 (1)12 (4)22 (5)
Section 2931 (33)49 (45)80 (78)
Section 605 (2)(—)5 (2)
Total93 (66)134 (81)227 (147)
* Includes one male patient under 16.

(Figures in brackets are those as at 31st December, 1965).
Co-operation with the hospitals providing psychiatric cover for the Borough is
considered to be a very important factor in the care and after-care of the mentally ill.
Mental welfare officers continue to attend out-patient clinics at the West Middlesex
and Richmond Royal Hospitals and ward conferences at Banstead and Springfield
Hospitals. In November 1966 the Council approved arrangements being entered into
with Springfield Hospital Management Committee for the services of a social worker
to be allocated to Springfield Hospital for three sessions per week subject to the
Council being re-imbursed the cost involved. The joint use of social workers in
hospitals and the community is another important factor in this co-operation.
The fieldwork for the after-care of the mentally ill is carried out by the following
officers who were on the staff of the department at the end of the year:—
1 Chief mental welfare officer.
1 Senior mental welfare officer.
4 Mental welfare officers.
1 Mental health social worker.
1 Half-time social worker.
One mental welfare officer is attending a full-time two year course of study for
the Certificate in Social Work.
Dr. Alfred Torrie, M.A., M.B., Ch.B., D.P.M., continued to hold his valuable
"in-service training" sessions for mental welfare officers.
From the 1st January, 1966, until 31st December, 1966, mental welfare officers
made a total of 2,679 (726) home visits and approximately 72 (100) office interviews
were held during the same period.
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