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The Orchard - Bedfont
Report by the Warden, Mr H Marshall.
Formerly at 24 Wood Lane, the hostel for
mentally III patients has now been admitting
residents for four years. There were 18
residents admitted and 18 discharged during
the year These numbers being considerably
lower than the first three years.
The main reason for this drop in turn
over . was the transferring of the residents
to a new hostel - The Orchard, Bedfont.
The transfer took place on the 4th October
1969 and 13 residents moved from Wood Lane
to the new building Two residents stayed
behind in the existing hostel. Two transferred

Of the 5 admitted to hospital from the
hostel 3 subsequently returned to the hostel
Our own Council was responsible for 16
residents, Kent County Council 1 and Ealing 1
The Orchard Hostel is slightly smaller
than Wood Lane having 25 beds. An interesting
feature is a self contained rehabilitation flat
which can be used as a 1 bedroom or a 3
bedroom unit. The first occupants were a
mother and six month old baby. This was an
interesting innovation in the life of the hostel
The baby proved to be of therapeutic value
especially to the other female residents. The
provision of the flatlet allows us to consider
problem families who otherwise would not ha/e
been able to get residential treatment within
the mental health department.
Group pressures applied directly and
indirectly by the residents, continue to
influence the running and structure of the
hostel and the improved work record may be
attributed to this situation. The residents
still show supportive concern for each other
The Orchard is sited in what might be
termed a village community with much
interest and supportive help being given by
the churches, voluntary workers, and local
inhabitants. Indeed our housewarming party
was attended by 130 guests, many of whom
were local people. We intend to cultivate
and strengthen this interest
Dr Herridge has continued to attend weekly
giving valuable psychiatric support, Dr Clarke
of Whitton Road Hounslow was appointed
hostel general practitioner and holds a weekly
surgery at the hostel. Both doctors are available
at all times to give advice as necessary.
Residents and staff received help, support
and advice from Dr Bennett the mental health
social workers, and indeed from the administration
as a whole
With the continuance of this professional
support, coupled with the recruitment of good
local staff I view the future with well founded
optimism
Residential Care
At the end of 1969 residential care was being
provided as follows:-

Short term care
In addition to the period of short term care
provided at the weekly boarding unit, arrangements
were made for 22 subnormal and severely
subnormal patients to have a total of 27
periods of short term care varying between two
and eight weeks. Of the 27 periods of such care
arranged 21 were accommocbted in National
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