View report page

SECTION 51 - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE.
The Mental Health Service is administered by the Health Committee, the Medical
Officer of Health being responsible for its organisation and control.
No new legislation or alteration of existing legislation in relation to Mental
Health was introduced during the year. The Royal Commission on the Law relating to Mental
Illness and Mental Deficiency set up by the Minister of Health, commenced its hearing of
evidence given by the various Associations, and was still doing so at the end of the year.
Staffing of the Service.
1. Medical.
The Deputy Medical Officer of Health is responsible for the day to day medical
supervision of the service. This officer and the Chief Assistant School Medical Officer
are approved by the local health authority for the purposes of the Mental Deficiency Acts
(1913 - 1938) they carried out medical examinations and where necessary certification
of mental defectives.
Three local general practitioners, in addition to the Deputy Medical Officer of
Health, have also been approved by the Minister of Health for the purpose of making
recommendations under Section 1(3) and 5(3) of the Mental Treatment Act, 1930, and were
available when required,
2. Lay Staffs.
(1) Mr.G.Hawthorn, one of the Duly Authorised Officers, retired in July.
Consequent on this retirement, the establishment was altered to consist of one
Senior Duly Authorised Officer largely responsible for the administration of the Mental
Deficiency, Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts; two full-time Duly Authorised Officers
carrying out visiting and other personal duties under these Acts; and one relief Duly
Authorised Officer who takes a regular turn on the duty rota for emergency calls outside
office hours.
(ii) Despite advertisements, the post of full-time Psychiatric Social Worker responsible
for the pre-care and after-care of persons suffering from mental illness remained vacant
during the year, although by the end of the year it was anticipated that a suitable applicant
might shortly be appointed.
(iii) The establishment of the Occupation Centre comprised a Supervisor, two Assistant
Supervisors, and a Male Handicraft Instructor, but due to sickness and resignations the
staffing was not always up to strength.
To assist recruitment, which had been proving rather difficult, the Council adopted
a scheme for training Assistant Supervisors. By its terms, suitable candidates would be
appointed as Unqualified Assistants and would subsequently take the training course of the
National Association for Mental Health at the Council's expense while remaining salaried
members of the Occupation Centre staff. After qualification the trained Assistant Supervisors
would be expected to give not less than two years further service to the Centre, on
the qualified salary scale. The scheme was also intended to apply to any unqualified members
of the existing staff who might wish to take advantage of it.
72