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60
Community Care
There was a steady increase in the number of cases referred for assistance, some from general
practitioners, but most from hospital doctors requesting after-care visits. It is of interest to note that
whereas in the period 1st April, 1965 to 31st December, 1965, 67 cases were referred for after-care,
during 1966 there were 189 such referrals. It may safely be assumed that this upward trend will continue,
and that in the near future consideration will need to be given to a revision of the mental health
field staff establishment.
Contact has also been maintained with the families of subnormal adults, and here again more
intensive visiting has been possible. Those families in which there was a subnormal child have continued
to be visited at regular intervals by health visitors.
Active support has continued to be given to the residents of Hayes Park Hostel, and the staff also
have been given help wherever possible in their dealings with the residents. Liaison has also been
maintained with both voluntary and statutory community care agencies.
The Borough mental health service is, of course, available to assist mentally ill persons arriving
at London Airport. During 1966 a total of 74 cases were dealt with at the Airport—the majority
during out-of-office hours. With the continuing increase of traffic at the Airport this is another facet
of the mental health work which will increase.
This is a summary of the cases dealt with by the Mental Welfare Officers:—

Work of Mental Welfare Officers
(a) Mental Illness
Visits made by Mental Welfare Officers 2,083
Compulsory Admissions to Psychiatric Hospitals 193
Informal Admissions to Psychiatric Hospitals 77
Office Interviews 170
(b) Mental Subnormality
Visits to those under Borough Community Care 868
Office Interviews 40