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of a toilet block with changing and shower facilities
over which will be placed a gymnasium.
5. A day centre for 30 elderly mentally disturbed—
it is hoped that a large residential property in
St Margarets will be available for this purpose. This
is a three storied house with sizeable hall standing
in the garden which with relatively small modification
to the ground floor, particularly toilet and bathroom
facilities, will make a very adequate day centre for
such people.
The hall situated in the garden and one large sitting
room would be suitable for light activities, and a
further sitting room would be used for relaxation
and recreational purposes leaving a small room as an
office and a rather small dining room. The upper
stories of this building would make a suitable flat for
staff.
6. A day centre for 50 mentally ill patients—this is
included as an integral part of the projected scheme
for the extension of the new Health Centre at 92 Bath
Road Hounslow. It will consist of two large workrooms,
a small room for arts and crafts, a sitting
room for recreation and relaxation. There will also
be a small kitchen for training purposes and a small
hairdressing and powder room with full facilities for
the various staff including two consulting rooms for
visiting psychiatrists.
7. A sheltered workshop for 30 chronic mentally
ill patients—this is under active consideration, and it
is thought that this might well be run in conjunction
with a similar welfare establishment for the physically
disabled. As yet no suitable site has been allocated
for this purpose but it is hoped to obtain one which
is on the main lines of public transport through the
borough, and within a reasonable distance of the
hostel that is planned in Bedfont for mentally ill
patients.
8. In the course of the next year it is hoped to start
a club for mentally ill patients based possibly on the
hostel about to be opened in Wood Lane so that
the residents may also participate.
I am grateful to Dr Morris Markowe and Dr Colin
Herridge, consultant psychiatrist at Springfield
Hospital, for the following report—
'Report on Community Health Services'
The accent for psychiatric treatment has swung
over the last few years from the psychiatric hospital
to the community. Nowhere is this more important
than in Hounslow, where by an unfortunate historical
mischance the psychiatric in-patient beds are mostly
in Springfield Hospital, some 15 miles distant.
The aim of the community psychiatric services is
first to keep people out of hospital, and allow them
to receive treatment at home. Hounslow is very
fortunate in having a large complement of mental
welfare officers who, in co-operation with psychiatrists
visiting local out-patient clincs or directly at patients'
homes, can often manage to carry this out. Should
admission to Springfield be necessary, a mental welfare
officer regularly attends case conferences, sees the
patient in hospital and helps with home arrangements
during the in-patient period, and on discharge. This
invaluable contact is working well, and may soon be
expanded further by the joint appointment of social
workers between the local authority and the hospital.
Day patient care is available at the West Middlesex
Hospital, and many people can avoid in-patient stays
by attending this active unit. Again the closest
co-operation exists between mental welfare officers
and psychiatrists in the use of this facility.
The opening of the hostel at Wood Lane early
next year for psychiatric patients will be another great
step forward. This will assist in the rehabilitation
of more long-stay patients into their own community,
and whilst most of the work of this will fall on to
the local authority mental welfare department, a
Springfield consultant will visit it weekly to provide
specialist services'.
Environmental Health
The following report is submitted by Mr K I Smith
FAPHI MRSH, Chief Public Health Inspector—
Physical characteristics—From the north bank of the
River Thames the land rises slowly to a height of
about 100 feet above sea level. The subsoil consists
of drift gravels overlaid in parts by patches of clay.
In addition to two large estates whose houses and
grounds are available to the public by courtesy of the
owners, open spaces totalling 1,100 acres are controlled
by the borough council.
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