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Officer are already inmates of the Public Assistance Institutions,
and while it would be preferable to place them in a certified institution
it is impossible to do so at present. A scheme to extend
the present colony at South Ockendon to 500 beds is before the
Board of Control, and it is hoped that the scheme will very soon
receive their approval. This extension will include a school for
the younger patients and workshops for boot repairing, mat and
rug-making, basket-work and brush-making, and suitable accommodation
for the necessary staff. The extension will allow for
all those cases who are at present boarded out to be brought to
the one institution, and also for those defectives who are awaiting
beds to be admitted.
South Ockendon Colony.
The Matron Superintendent (Miss W. S. Butler) reports:—
The number of patients on the books is 130, of which
51 are males over 16 years
35 are females over 16 years
26 are males under 16 years
18 are females under 16 years
Villa 1 houses 52 males (one under 16 years), but owing to
lack of space eight of this number sleep in Villa 2. These patients
are classified into two groups, viz., 28 high grade, 24 low grade.
Villa 2 houses 23 males under 16 years, two boys being home
on licence.
Villa 3 houses 34 females over 16 years and 18 under 16 years.
One female adult is on licence.
The patients in Villas 2 and 3 are graded into six groups
according to their mental age, irrespective of sex.
Movements. These were as follows:—
Admissions, 7 males, 5 females. Discharges to Forest Gate Hospital, 2 females, 1
male. Discharges to Rampton State Institution, 1 male.
Leave. Licence was granted as follows:—
Summer holidays,
; Christmas holidays, 37 ; 48 hours, 5 ; 3 months with parents,
2; 3 months in domestic service, 1.
Health. The health of the Colony has been excellent. There
has not been a single case of illness.
Employment. I am pleased to be able to state that the
gress made in this direction has been considerable, and the
addition of the Workshops in January of this year has enabled us
to enlarge the scope of our activities. A list of the total work
done in the various departments during the past year is appended:
work for the male adults is allocated as follows:—
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