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
Hillingdon 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hillingdon]
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On 31st December, 1970 the number of cases receiving support from Mental Welfare Officers
in the community was 228.
| Referred by | Under 16 | Aged 16 years & over | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M | F | M | F | ||
| General Practitioners | 1 (1) | 108 (65) | 195 (166) | 304 (232) | |
| Hospital or Discharge from inpatient treatment | (1) | (1) | 83 (81) | 175 (213) | 258 (296) |
| Hospital after or during O/P or day treatment | 1 | 33 (20) | 70 (33) | 104 (53) | |
| Police and Courts | 1 (2) | (1) | 30 (32) | 15 (25) | 46 (60) |
| Other sources | 2(1) | 123 (117) | 107 (120) | 232(237) | |
| Totals | 2(4) | 3(3) | 377 (315) | 562 (557) | 944 (879) |
HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS
The importance of statutory duties performed by Mental Welfare Officers must not be overlooked.
The Mental Welfare Officer is vested with legal powers under the Mental Health Act, 1959.
Cases admitted to hospital both under order and informally are as follows:
| Mental Health Act, 1959 | Total |
|---|---|
| Section 25 | 123 (113) |
| Section 26 | 10 (3) |
| Section 29 | 93 (82) |
| Section 60 | 2(1) |
| Informal | 86 (97) |
| Total | 314 (296) |
STAND-BY DUTIES
A 24-hour emergency service on a rota basis is maintained by the mental health team for
out-of-office calls. During 1970 the duty officer was called out on 201 occasions compared with
149 calls in 1969.
The new Northwick Park Hospital in the Harrow area has as yet no Casualty Department
and, since the closure of Harrow Hospital, casualty cases are taken to Mount Vernon Hospital.
Mental Welfare Officers in Hillingdon have therefore to deal with all attempted suicides needing
urgent psychiatric admission that have been taken to Mount Vernon for initial treatment. As
psychiatric admissions from the Harrow area must be directed to Shenley Hospital this has placed
an added burden on the Department's resources and accounts in some measure for the increase
in stand-by calls.
LONDON AIRPORT
Officers are also available to assist in the care of mentally ill patients from London Airport.
These patients may be in transit, may be repatriated from overseas or may arrive at the Airport,
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