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Hospital, which deals with the majority of
psychiatric admissions from the Borough of
Hounslow, is about 12 miles away and not easy
to reach by public transport, our emphasis in
treatment of nervous illness is swinging more and
more to the community. Every effort is made to
treat people on an out-patient and day patient
basis, to discharge those who have to be admitted,
as rapidly as possible to continue their treatment
at home and, despite the distance factor, to build
up an even closer liaison with the local authority
services.
In addition to the existing out-patient and day
hospital facilities at the West Middlesex Hospital,
a new clinic, attended by two doctors has opened
weekly at Hounslow Hospital. It is a great success
and unfortunately has already built up a formidable
waiting list. The informal atmosphere,
and the presence of a local authority mental
health social worker to cope with domestic and
other similar worries in a way that only a local
person can, is its greatest asset.
At Springfield, all admissions from the borough
are now cared for by The Hounslow Firm',
which consists of a consultant, a medical assistant
and two registrars. As these are the people who
also conduct the out-patient clinics at the West
Middlesex Hospital and a considerable volume of
home visiting, much greater continuity of care is
possible. Furthermore, the firm's weekly full
ward round is always attended by a local
authority social worker, so that full co-operation
is maintained. It has to be admitted, however,
that the ever increasing clinical load puts a tremendous
strain on the firm, and more medical
staff are an urgent need, if the standard of service
is to be even maintained, let alone improved. At
least one more out-patient clinic is a necessity,
further medical cover is required at 24 Wood
Lane, where final rehabilitation of discharged
patients is carried out, and a further day centre is
needed. The present staff cannot hope to cope
with these necessary additions.
Finally, it must be noted with great pleasure
that the 'stigma' of psychiatric illness appears to
be dying an increasingly rapid death, and in the
borough it is noticeable how much more ready
people are to ask for help early. Much credit
must go to the mental health division of the
health department for this; their officers have
totally lost the image of the 'DAO' and are now
regarded as social workers and friends by an increasing
number. The hospital service, by moving
more and more into the community, will be hard
pressed to do justice to this new and encouraging
trend.'
Environmental Health
The following is submitted by Mr K J Smith
FAPHI MRSH, Chief Public Health Inspector—
The annual report for 1965 contained a good
deal of descriptive material designed to show the
effects upon the department of local government
reorganisation and the creation of the new
borough.
By the beginning of 1966 many difficulties had
been overcome and this report is intended to
show, in many cases in a more condensed tabular
form, the results of a full year's work of the reorganised
department together with certain
specific information requested by the Minister in
Circular 1/67.
Water supply
The greater part of the supply is provided by the
Metropolitan Water Board and the remainder by
the South West Suburban Water Company and is
satisfactory in quantity and quality. The water is
derived from the river Thames and no new
sources were instituted during the year.
Sampling and quality control at the supplier's
works and laboratories are on a daily basis, and
3,287 samples were taken for bacteriological
examination and 296 for chemical analysis, with
satisfactory results. There are no premises in the
borough where water other than from the piped
supply is used for drinking.
The water is not plumbo-solvent. Fluoride is
not added, and the natural content averages 0.20
milligrammes per litre.
One complaint about alleged unpleasant
odours and taste in tap water was investigated.
The fault was found to lie in the taps, and their
replacement together with some modifications to
the pipe runs serving them effectively remedied
the trouble.
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