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SHORT TERM CARE
This is an invaluable service to parents, not only to those whose children are waiting admission
on a permanent basis, but to relieve the parents so that they may have a holiday or respite from
caring for their handicapped children. The Borough is fortunate in its short term care facilities.
For the under 16 years it has two hospitals to apply to but one of these can only take the severely
subnormal child who must not be over 12 years. In one or two instances the Weekly Boarding
Unit has been used for short term care when, for example, mother has had to enter hospital for a
few days but father or other relatives could have child at weekends.
For the over 16 years in addition to the subnormality hospital, Bourne Hostel has been used,
and the demand has increased each year.
During the year 55 periods of short term care were arranged and this included two periods
for two cases placed in private homes run by voluntary organisations.
HOLIDAY CAMPS
The Borough arranges two holiday camps for those attending the Training Centres (except
those in the SCU).
The Junior Training Centre usually go to a residential special school kindly loaned by the
Education Department. This has proved very successful as the school has all the facilities required
for handicapped children particularly the younger age range. The staff of the school are also most
co-operative and have assisted the camp staff to make the holiday a happy and enjoyable one for
the children. This year 18 children and 6 staff attended.
The adults go to St. Mary's Bay, Dymchurch, Kent. This too, has proved to be a beneficial
venture. In the past the males and females have had separate periods on holiday but this year a
mixed camp was tried and found to be a complete success. 30 males, 35 females and 10 staff
attended.
VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS
Hillingdon has two Parent Associations affiliated to the National Society for Mentally
Handicapped Children. These two Associations are very co-operative and have been most helpful
in sponsoring outings, parties, etc., to the Training Centres. These two Associations also run
Gateway Clubs which many of the mentally handicapped in the Borough attend each week.
This year one of the Associations has opened a Play Group which has been of tremendous
benefit to the young mentally handicapped child and also to the mothers to be able to meet other
mothers with similar problems.
In addition to the two Associations a considerable amount of support to Mental Health
Establishments has been received both in cash and kind from local firms, sports and Social Clubs,
Public Houses, Youth Groups, etc., and this has been very much appreciated, and assists greatly
the task of caring for the mentally handicapped. There is also a local branch of the National
Association for Mental Health in the Borough under the Chairmanship of Father Alcock. This
branch is a small one and runs annually courses of educational value on various aspects of Mental
Health in the Community. The branch also supports the hostel for the mentally ill in various ways
particularly at Christmas.
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