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ill patients. The service is normally limited to three nights per week, with a maximum
of twelve nights for any one patient. This can only be increased with the approval of
the Chairman of the Social Services Committee.
The Council pay the "sitters-in" at the rate of 3/6d. per hour, or up to 35/- for
a night's duty of ten hours. Persons receiving the service are assessed to pay to the
Council a charge according to means subject to a maximum charge of 35/- per night
of ten hours. Persons in receipt of benefit from the Department of Health and Social
Security receive the service free of charge. Because of the difficulty of recruitment,
consideration was being given at the end of the year to increasing the rate of pay of
"sitters-in".
Details of patients helped under the "sitters-in" service during 1968 was as
follows : —
Total number of cases 23
Men 6
Women 17
The average age of these patients was 83 years.
The service was provided on an average of three nights per patient, during the year.
Patients paying full or part of
the cost of the service 11
Patients paying no contribution
to the cost of the service 12
Referred by: Family Doctors 7
District Nurses 11
Relatives 4
Home Help Organiser 1
The panel of "sitters-in" as at 31st December, 1968 was eleven.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The need to rely on voluntary societies and other local authorities for the placement
of mentally disordered persons in training establishments and residential accommodation
continued, although in January, 1968, a temporary 40 place junior training
centre was opened at Harle House, Feltham. During the same month a day centre for
the adult mentally ill commenced at the Hostel, 1 1 Rosslyn Road, Twickenham, initially
for one session per week.
In December, 1968, the Council approved a proposal to establish a temporary adult
training centre to accommodate 20-25 trainees at the former Civil Defence Headquarters,
Chestnut Avenue, East Sheen. It is envisaged that this centre will open in
the Summer of 1969.
The provisions for establishments for the mentally disordered included in the
Council's plan for the development of the Health and Welfare Services over the ten
year period 1966-76 were curtailed by financial restrictions, but it is anticipated that
work will commence on the purpose-built junior training centre at Strathmore Road,
Teddington, early in 1969, and the building completed in the Autumn of 1970.
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.
(District served: Twickenham, Teddington, Hampton and Hampton Wick).
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