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59
Community Care
These facilities are excellent because of being so close to the children's rooms, but they do need
rather careful supervision by staff. Children also soon learn how to operate the shower units.
It is now hoped that the training of children will be even more beneficial than in the past, as
there are no longer any problems to overcome inherent in the layout and fabric of the building.
In the old premises, much time and effort was spent in overcoming the physical disabilities of the
structure itself because of its antiquated construction and poor arrangement.
MENTAL ILLNESS
Again there has been an increase in the number of cases referred for assistance. It is interesting
to note that this is entirely due to the increase in cases referred for after-care services following
hospital treatment, thus ensuring them of support when they leave the protection of the hospital.
London Airport continues to pose many problems and Mental Welfare Officers were called to
the Airport 114 times during the year.
During the latter part of the year the day hospital of the Psychiatric Unit at Hillingdon Hospital
was opened and the in-patient wing is due to open in 1970. These are welcome additions to the
amenities for the mentally ill.
The problem of the elderly mentally confused and the chronic mentally ill is a very difficult one
to solve. The burden on families is considerable, and often very worrying. The elderly mentally
confused in Part III accommodation also give rise to staffing and other difficulties. There is included
in the Development Plan a proposal for the provision of residential accommodation for the elderly
mentally confused which will provide proper staffing and care facilities of the nature these difficult
cases demand.
It is likely that more cases of this type will be found in the community as the present policy is
to accommodate as many as possible of these cases outside psychiatric hospitals.