View report page

SECTION 51 - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE.
The Medical Officer of Health is responsible to the Health Committee for the general
administration and organisation of the Mental Health Service. There is no Mental Health Subcommittee.
No new legislation or alteration of existing legislation in relation to Mental Health
was introduced during 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.
The establishment consists 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; one
relief Duly Authorised Officer who takes a regular turn on the duty rota for emergency calls
outside office hours, and one Psychiatric Social Worker.
The establishment of the Occupation Centre comprised a Supervisor, three Assistant
Supervisors, and a Male Handicraft Instructor.
Co-crdination with Regional Hospital Boards and Hospital Management Committees.
I would like to express my appreciation of the ready help and co-operation this Department
has received from the medical staff of Goodmayes and South Ockendon Hospitals.
The Council's Duly Authorised Officers continued to supervise defectives on licence from
institutions and to prepare progress reports. They also paid home visits and prepared reports
for any defectives in institutions whose orders were due for review, or who were under
consideration for holiday leave, licence, or discharge.
87