London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
West Ham 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
This page requires JavaScript
MENTAL DEFICIENCY.
The manner in which defectives have been dealt with is shown in the following table:–
| Males | Females | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Mental defectives ascertained as "Subject to be dealt with":- | |||
| Number in Institutions under Order | 210 | 208 | 418 |
| Number under Guardianship | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Number in "places of safety" | – | 2 | 2 |
| Number under Statutory Supervision | l42 | 125 | 267 |
| Number in which action not yet taken under any of the above headings | 11 | 9 | 20 |
| B. Mental defectives not at present "subject to be dealt with" but over whom some form of voluntary supervision is maintained | 38 | 21 | 59 |
| TOTAL: | 402 | 368 | 770 |
During the year 7 cases (3 males and 4 females) were admitted to institutions
under Order,
ASCERTAINMENT.
The number of mental defectives ascertained during the year was 30 (17 males and
13 females)* This number includes 26 cases (l6 males and 10 females) which were reported
by the Local Education Authority. Of the new cases 2 were admitted to institutions - 1
under Order and 1 as in a "place of safety", 24 were placed under Statutory Supervision and
in H- cases no action had been taken at the end of the year.
In addition to the foregoing 7 cases were examined and placed under friendly
supervision.
SUPERVISION,
At the end of the year there were 267 defectives (142 males and 125 females) under
statutory supervision and 59 cases (38 males and 21 females) under friendly supervision. In
addition there were 23 patients on licence from institutions who were supervised by the
Council's officers.
All these cases are visited by the Duly Authorised Officers at varying intervals
according to the circumstances of the case. Special cases are referred to the Council's
Psychiatric Social Worker.
In most cases the visits and advice of the Officers are welcomed. Defectives who are
capable of working are helped to find suitable employment or are referred to the local Disablement
Rehabilitation Officers. The number of domiciliary visits to mental defectives
made by the Duly Authorised Officers during the year was 1,540.
In addition the Officers made 165 visits in order to obtain reports for visitors,
holidays, etcc
50