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SECTION 51 - MENTAL HEALTH.
The Health Committee of the local health authority has retained responsibility
for the Mental Health Services and has not delegated the administration of the service
to a sub-committee. The Health Committee meets at approximately monthly Intervals.
The Medical Officer of Health is responsible for the organisation and control of
the service.
Although It has not been possible to implement all the proposals approved under
this Section the arrangements for carrying out the service are running very smoothly.
Staff.
(a) Medical.
Under the proposals approved by the Minister for this service it was planned to
employ jointly with the Regional Hospital Board one whole-time medical officer who would
undertake for the Local Health Authority, the medical direction of the Mental Health
Service. In addition to acting as their Adviser through the Medical Officer of Health
he would also have served the Local Education Authority in the discharge of their duties
relating to educationally sub-normal children. Circumstances have not permitted the
implementation of this plan so the present arrangement is for the Deputy Medical Officer
of Health to be responsible to the Medical Officer of Health for the medical direction,
supervision and administration of the service.
Medical examination of mental defectives is carried out by the Deputy Medical
Officer of Health and by the Chief Assistant School Medical Officer both of whom have
had considerable experience in this work.
Three local general practitioners, who are approved by the Minister of Health for
the purpose of making recommendations under Section 5 of the Mental Treatment Act, 1930,
are available when required.
(b) Lay Administration.
(i) A Senior Duly Authorised Officer who is also the Deputy Chief Administrative
Assistant in the Health Department, is responsible to the Medical Officer of Health for
the lay administration of the service and for the supervision of the Duly Authorised
Officers.
(ii) Three male Duly Authorised Officers carry out initial action under the Lunacy
and Mental Treatment Acts. They also investigate new cases reported for action under the
Mental Deficiency Acts, supervise mental defectives at home under supervision or on licence
from Institutions, and carry out other duties under the Acts. All these officers have had
considerable experience in mental welfare.
(iii) A full-time Psychiatric Social Worker, whose main duties are in connection
with pre-care and after-care work for mental patients and who is also responsibla for
running the Psychiatric Social Club which was taken over by the local health authority
from Goodmayes Mental Hospital on the appointed day. The Psychiatric Social Worker has
a half-time clerical assistant.
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