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Pirates Spring Holiday Home run by the National
Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and
1 was placed in a voluntary home.

One child was in a home pending admission to
hospital but the other persons did not require the
facilities or supervision provided by a hospital.
I am grateful to Dr E W Shepherd, Physician
Superintendent, Leavesden Hospital, for the
following report: —
'The report for 1966 emphasised the transfer
from hospital to community life of psychiatric
orientation and in the subnormality field in general
one would like to see a closer integration of
hospital and community services. This is
manifestly difficult with the distance Leavesden is
from its catchment area, Hounslow being the
furthest borough from which we admit patients.
This results considerably in the diminution of
the amount of time that can be spent in the
community by hospital medical staff, difficulty in
visiting in-patients by relatives and a complete
inability to provide day hospital services.
'The waiting list for admission to hospital is
far too long and I trust that we will slowly make
inroads into this, particularly as a new ward is
planned to be opened in 1970. Unfortunately, the
vacancies that do occur, particularly for children,
seem to be used up rapidly and almost entirely by
new urgent referrals. Although Leavesden is the
largest subnormality hospital in the country with
over 2,000 beds, our catchment area includes the
London Boroughs of Harrow, Hillingdon, Brent,
Ealing, Hammersmith and Kensington & Chelsea.
In 1967 our total admissions were 240 short stay,
160 long stay informal and 54 on a compulsory
basis of which I hope Hounslow had its fair share.
It is still not always possible to provide enough
beds for short stay periods during the long
summer holidays but this service is now offered
and being used throughout the whole year in order
to alleviate stress and to enable parents to keep
their children at home for the major part of their
lives.
'I think the bi-monthly clinics in Hounslow
that I attend with Dr Bennett are valuable in
strengthening the working relationship between
the borough and the hospital. I hope that we may
be able to hold these clinics monthly with a
Medical Assistant alternating with me.'
Projects
Weekly Boarding Unit, Hanworth
The building of the weekly boarding unit at
Main Street, Hanworth is now well advanced and
it should be possible to admit the first children
in September, 1968.
It is a 12 place unit and the children will be
resident during term time but return home during
the weekends and for school holidays.
Long Term Home for Subnormal Children
A site has been acquired in Heston for a 12 place
home and the Borough Architect is preparing the
necessary plans. It is hoped to obtain loan sanction
and start building in 1968/69.
Mental Health Week
Active support was again given to Mental Health
Week. The junior training schools and the Acton
Lodge Adult Training Centre were opened to the
public, also the hostel for recovering mentally ill
patients. Posters announcing the event were
displayed at many points in the borough and in
all secondary and grammar schools. Films were
shown in schools and to youth groups, and
speakers were provided to answer questions and
stimulate discussion.
Mental Illness
As the result of reorganisation at Springfield
Hospital which took place last year the service to
patients is proving to be far more comprehensive
than previously, the overall effect being that of
teamwork between the general practitioners, the
hospital and the mental health social workers,
rather than each unit working as an independent
body. This team spirit has been enhanced
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