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17
The Hostel, 73 Wembley Park Drive
This small unstaffed unit for six ladies is continuing to function most satisfactorily. This year it has
been possible to prevent a re-admission to Shenley Hospital of the one patient suffering from a relapse by her
transfer for a three week period to "Brentholme" Hostel. The skilled attention by the staff there enabled
this patient to return speedily to her place at the unstaffed unit and back to work without suffering the
distress of a hospital admission. In this way, the two hostels complement each other admirably in their
services to the mentally ill in the community.
Registered Residential Homes (Ealon House, N.W.6)
This remains the only voluntary hostel within Brent. It is registered in accordance with Section 37,
National Assistance Act, 1948 as applied by Section 19, Mental Health Act, 1959 and run by the Jewish
Welfare Board. Regular inspections are made by the Senior Medical Officer and I can report that gradually
this hostel is successfully mobilizing an increasing number of residents back into a realistic work situation.
The general standards are excellent.
Day Centre for the Mentally III, Belton Hall, Bertie Road, N.W.10
In line with up-to-date occupational therapy practice, activities at the Centre in 1969 have tended
more towards an orientation to the development of wider interests and self reliance in the patients and not
only on creating work situations
The number of referrals (92) and discharges (70) during the year approximated closely to the figures
for 1968 (89 and 69 respectively). As in years past the position has arisen on a number of occasions that
the facilities provided at the Centre do not meet the specific needs of a particular patient referred for admission.
In these instances it has not proved possible to accept the referral.
A prefabricated extension to the premises, the need for which is reflected in some of the projects
and activities mentioned below, was completed in May at a cost of approximately £1,000 including furniture
and fittings.
The Monday Afternoon Social Club for the elderly mentally ill which had heretofore functioned at
"Brentholme" Hostel, transferred to the new extension and continued to provide for a membership of 16.
For the benefit of patients and to encourage mutually helpful involvement, arrangements were made
to entertain ten housebound elderly people, introduced by the W.R.V.S., to a Christmas dinner party. The
programme in other respects has followed the pattern of previous years including such things as group undertaking
of decorating; furniture and toy repairs and dressmaking; gardening; cooking; some routine assembly
work; typing and duplicating; physical activities, e.g. swimming and tennis; social activities including visits,
play readings and discussions; art. The work of the occupational therapist staff is supplemented by other professional
workers including the visiting consulting psychiatrist, mental health social worker (conducting a
weekly therapeutic discussion group) and the Disablement Resettlement Officer to advise on employment
problems, further training and rehabilitation arrangements.
Clubs for the Mentally III
The two clubs run in the Borough for the mentally ill continued in successful operation during 1969.
These are the "Gateway Club" which is held at Willesden Day Centre on Tuesday evenings and which follows
purely social pursuits and the "Do-it-Yourself Club" held at the same venue on Thursday evenings and which
has as its main aim helping members to develop hobbies and other active interests so as to widen and enrich
what might otherwise be somewhat restricted lives. Both these clubs operate with the support of occupational
therapist and mental health social worker staffs.
Day Care for the Elderly Mentally III
As in previous years, the needs of this large group of patients are partially met by the few places
(ten) allocated to Brent at the Harrow Day Centre for the Elderly Mentally Infirm. These provisions do not
anywhere near meet the total needs among the aged and it is with much regret that I had to accept the Council's
decision that on financial grounds, extension of this much needed service would have to be postponed,
despite pressing needs, in the present situation.
Shenley Hospital
Professional relations between the community mental health and hospital staffs continue to be
excellent.
Some far-reaching changes, however, are going to take place in the near future as the whole policy
regarding such very large psychiatric hospitals has come under review. Gradually it is intended that such
institutions should disappear when more small, acute psychiatric wards attached to district general hospitals
become freely available. It is to be hoped that the optimistic view that modern treatment methods supported
by good community services will be substantiated and result in fewer and fewer chronically ill patients, so that
the doors of empty old "chronic wards" can then be locked from the outside forever.
League of Friends of Shenley Hospital
The Brent Branch have generously contributed towards comforts of ex-Shenley patients in the community.
Christmas parcels for the residents at 73 Wembley Park Drive and contributions of money for
Christmas activities at the "Gateway" Social Club and "Brentholme" Hostel were greatly appreciated by
patients and residents.
The Brent Samaritans
The Director, the Rev. Keith Johnson has furnished the following:—
"In 1969, our activity increased considerably. This was largely due to the fact that our hours of
work were extended. The Centre is now manned from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following day, in place of