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 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond]
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The total number of mentally ill persons residing in the community and under care
at the 31st December, 1966, was 294 (76) i.e. 138 (8) males, 156 (68) females.
The figures in brackets show comparable figures for 1965. The increase in work
is mainly due to the natural evolution and organisation of the service which commenced
on the 1st April, 1965, and the number of officers employed which was greater at the
end of 1965 and 1966 than it was at the 1st April, 1965.
Residential Accommodation for the Mentally 111.
At the end of 1966 there were 21 patients, for whom the Borough had accepted
financial responsibility, in mental after-care homes and hostels run by voluntary
societies and other local authorities. The Mental After-Care Association is particularly
helpful in this respect.
Community Care of the Subnormal and Severely Subnormal.
Referrals to the mental health service.
During 1966 the following referrals were received :
| Subnormal | Severely Subnormal | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over 16 | Under 16 | Over 16 | Under 16 | ||||||
| M | F | M | F | M | F | M | F | ||
| Referrals under Section 57 (as amended) Education Act, 1944 | — | — | 3 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| Referrals of educationally subnormal children requiring supervision after leaving school | 8 | 4 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 |
| Referrals from other sources | 5 | 4 | 1 | - | 2 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 25 |
| Total | 13 | 8 | 4 | - | 2 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 43 |
Supervision in the Home.
With support from social workers and health visitors many subnormal and severely
subnormal patients of all ages are able to live satisfactorily in the community. It is
essential that they and their parents are able to obtain assistance with their problems
and this is readily available through visiting officers. I have had the benefit of specialist
advice on individual patients from Dr. D. Watterson, M.B., Ch.B., D.P.H.
The total number of subnormal and severely subnormal persons under community
care at the end of 1966 was 224 compared with 225 in 1965. This does not include
those patients placed in residential accommodation under Guardianship and Informal
Foster Care arrangements.
Guardianship and Informal Foster Care.
At the end of 1966 there were three patients under the Guardianship of the
Council (four at the end of 1965). There were also 15 under informal foster care
arrangements in homes or hostels run by voluntary societies and private homes (12 at
31st December, 1965). In order to avoid formal guardianship procedures informal
placements are made wherever practicable. The Guardianship Society, Hove, is most
helpful in assisting in the placement of patients in suitable homes.
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