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has established a group service for the factories
in its area.
During the past few years the concept of
community health has gained ground In order
that the physical and mental health of people at
work may be maintained and promoted it is
necessary for an occupational health service to
be an integral part of the community health
service of an area. I am happy to be able to say
that the Hounslow Health Authority have accepted
this principle.
Occupational health should aim at the pro
motion and maintenance of the highest degree of
physical mental and social well being of
workers in all occupations
World Health Organisation
Committee on Occupational Health 1957
Mental Health
This has been a year of considerable progress in
which three new establishments were added to
the community mental health services.
Subn ormality
The number of subnormal and severely subnormal
persons living in the borough at the end of the
year was 370 an increase of 12 from the previous
year. The number of new cases referred was 60
including 40 children under 16 years of age 10
of whom were referred for supervision after leaving
school,
During 1968, 13 patients were admitted to
hospital for indefinite periods. Four of these were
subnormal and nine severely subnormal but one
returned home before the end of the year. There
were 288 long term patients from the borough in
hospitals at the end of the year and patients and
relatives suffer by reason of the location of these
hospitals many miles from the borough At the
end of the year there were only 3 patients on the
hospital waiting list. These were all children
under 16 years of age one of whom needed
admission urgently and was admitted early in the
new year. This situation suggests the great
benefit derived from improving community services
The provision of further establishments and the
employment of an adequate number of trained
personnel will however be necessary if this
benefit is to continue.
Counselling clinics continued and the Physicia
Superintendent of the catchment hospital attended
one such clinic session In particular support
was given to the parents of very young children
who were offered appointments at 7 9 monthly
intervals
Regretably as during the previous year the
mental health social workers were not able to
visit all the subnormals as frequently as was
desirable and their visits were directed towards
households known to have acute problems The
total number of visits to subnormals decreased
slightly but those to mentally ill patients increased
considerably It appears that the more dynamic
situations which arise in cases of mental illness
are more compelling to mental health social workers
than the long term work with subnormals and that
until an adequate number of social workers is available
this disparity will continue.
The two local parents societies actively
supported the two Junior Training Schools and the
Acton Lodge Adult Training Centre and their interest
and help is greatly appreciated.
Junior Training Schools.
Both schools remained full throughout the year and
at the end of December there were 15 children on
the waiting list of whom 9 were for special care
units It has not yet been possible to reduce the
size of the classes as the other local authorities
have only withdrawn a few children. There were
few staff changes and at the end of the year all
three posts for Trainee Teachers were filled It was
encouraging to see the high calibre of applicants
for these posts.
There are good physical education facilities at
both schools but these are partly wasted because
there is no physical education teacher on the staff.
The addition of such a teacher to serve both schools
would be a great asset,
Hanworth Junior Training School
The school was transferred to the new building in
Main Street Hanworth on 5th February and was
officially opened on 4th May. These excellent
premises have proved a stimulus to both children
and staff alike The spacious classrooms and
splendid assembly hall are a great advantage.
The additional facilities of the practical room
and the gymnastic apparatus in the assembly hall
provide a wide range of interest and experience in
new spheres from which the children receive great
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