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105
Colony Accommodation.
The provision of a Colony of 500 beds at Ockendon is now
the subject of consideration by the West Ham Authorities.
The number of beds provided for is at least 200 in excess of
that needed in this area: the Board of Control suggest that
neighbouring Authorities should be approached with a view to
combination or co-operation in this scheme. There will be
no difficulty in filling the extra beds from outside areas.
Ascertainment.
It is to be expected that the percentage of ascertainment
will vary considerably in different areas, e.g., in West Ham
many cases are attending a special school who would probably
have been notified to the Local Authority were it not for such
schools being available. Further, in a borderland case
of mental defect it is dependent upon the individual view of
the examining Officer as to whether or not that case is certified
as a definite case, some Medical Officers taking the view
that none but very definite cases should be certified, and
others that such borderland cases are better certified, in order
that they may be brought under control.
As regards co-operation with Poor Law Authorities,
Charitable Homes for Defectives, and the Central Association
for Mental Welfare, in this area this is of the closest possible
nature, as is evidenced by constant correspondence with these
Authorities which is placed before this Committee. I am of
opinion that the West Ham ascertainment figure of .77 per
1,000 (excluding Poor Law cases and E.A. children) though
low is not altogether incorrect. As regards children. I have
no doubt whatever that very few, if any, are overlooked. In
respect to adults who are certifiable under the Mental Deficiency
Act. 1913. and who have newly come into this district,
it is possible that they may not come to my notice unless I am
informed by the Local Authority from whose area they have
arrived. This Committee are now responsible for 250 cases.
64 males and 42 females being in Institutions, the remainder
under supervision.
Supervision.
Supervision is carried out by your Mental Deficiency
Nurse, who has had twelve years' experience in this duty.
There were 143 cases, 82 males and 61 females, under supervision
in their homes at 31st December, 1926. Many of these
are under supervision only because Institutional treatment is
not available. The Nurse visits at varying intervals, ranging
from a month to three months, according to the circumstances
of the individual case. Defectives are re-examined