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There were no cases of diphtheria or poliomyelitis. When
pulmonary tuberculosis is found in a pupil or teacher the
chest physician is consulted and where considered advisable
investigations of school contacts are undertaken. School
choldren, between their thirteenth and fourteenth
birthdays, are offered a test for susceptibility to
tuberculosis and BCG vaccination. During the year 1308
school children and students received BCG vaccination.
Psychiatric Services
The following report has been submitted by C F Herridge
MA MB BChir MFtCPsych DPM, Consultant Psychiatrist
In line with the Department of Health's policy, the West
Middlesex Psychiatric Unit is beginning to take over
catchment responsibility for the part of the Borough
served by Springfield Hospital. Since January 1st 1973,
I have been based on the West Middlesex, and we have been
taking all actue cases (except psychogeriatrics) from the old
Borough of Heston and Isleworth, Springfield continuing
to serve the old Borough of Brentford and Chiswick and
psychogeriatrics, and St. Bernard's Hospital the old
Borough of Feltham. It is hoped that by 1977 a new,
purpose built Psychiatric Unit will be open at West
Middlesex, and that this will be able to deal with all
psychiatry from the Borough.
Although the West Middlesex Unit is old fashioned and
cramped, increased medical and nursing staffing there has
provided quite a good inpatient service, and with the
appointment of a new Senior Nursing Officer to the
Unit, it is hoped that in co-operation with the Borough's
Principal Nursing Officer we shll be able to get a domiciliary
and community Psychiatric Nursing Service off the ground.
This in part will make up for the difficulties that have
arisen of late in the provision of adequate psychiatric social
work services, and it is sad to report that at the time of
writing, crisis intervention therapy is about all that can be
offered, and frustration levels amongst those who wish to
do real casework is high. The current situation is due, in
part, to the fact that most of the mental health specialist
workers have left, and, as is now being nationally agreed in
many circles, the generic social worker has neither the
time, expertise or training necessary for good psychiatric
work.
The Bath Road Day Centre, the Heston Day Centre and
the Orchard Hostel (with the two new "satellite houses")
continue to provide excellent services without which the
hospital service would founder. If the psychiatric social
work support could also be provided to this standard the
future would indeed be rosy.
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