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

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Richmond upon Thames 1970

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Richmond upon Thames]

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The following table shows the number of admissions which have taken place from 1st January, 1970 to the 31st December, 1970, all of which were on an informal basis:—

SubnormalSeverely SubnormalTotal
Over 16Under 16Over 16Under 16
MFMFMFMF
Normans-field Hospital123
Botleys Park Hospital
Queen Mary's Hospital
St. Ebba's Hospital
Total123

The number of patients awaiting admission to psychiatric hospitals for the subnormal at the end of the year was as follows:—

SubnormalSeverely SubnormalTotal
Over 16Under 16Over 16Under 16
MFMFMFMF
In urgent need of hospital care11
Not in urgent need of hospital care112318
Total112329

During the year there were 3 admissions to hospital on a permanent basis compared
with 4 in 1969.
The retirement of Dr. N. Langdon Down as Medical Superintendent of Normansfield
Hospital, was the end of an era. His devotion to the care of the subnormal was
certainly a legend in his own time and I would hasten to record my thanks for his
continual help and co-operation since the Borough was formed in 1965. My thanks are
also due to Dr. D. S. Sharpe, Medical Administrator, Botleys Park Hospital, and Dr.
B. Kirman, Senior Psychiatrist, Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, for their invaluable
help.
Temporary Care.
One way in which parents can be given a measure of relief is for the Department
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. It may on occasion be exceedingly difficult to arrange short term care, especially
in an emergency and especially if the person has multiple handicaps. Nevertheless,
during 1970 arrangements were made for eight patients to be sent to hospitals; eight
patients were accommodated in privately run establishments.
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