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SECTION 51 - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
The Mental Health Service is administered by the Health Committee, the Medical
Officer of Health being responsible for the organisation and control of the service.
Staff
Medical
The Deputy Medical Officer of Health is responsible for the medical supervision
and direction. This officer and the Chief Assistant School Medical Officer, who left the
service in December, 1957, are approved by the local health authority for the medical
examination of mental defectives. The Deputy Medical Officer of Health and three local
general practitioners are also approved for the purpose of making recommendations under
the Mental Treatment Act.
Lay Staffs
The Senior Mental Health Officer is responsible for the lay administration of the
service. Two full-time Mental Health Officers carry out duties under the Mental Deficiency
and Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts and one relief Mental Health Officer takes a regular
turn on the duty rota for emergency calls outside office hours. The establishment also
includes one Psychiatric Social Worker.
The establishment of the Occupation Centre consists of a Supervisor, a Deputy
Supervisor, three Assistant Supervisors and a Male Handicraft Instructor.
Co-ordination with Regional Hospital Boards and Hospital Management Committees.
The friendly relationship with the Regional Hospital Boards and Hospital
Management Committees and especially with the staffs of Goodmayes Hospital and South
Ockendon Hospital has been maintained. The Council's Mental Health Officers supervise
defectives on licence and also visit and report on home circumstances, etc., for
hospitals. The Psychiatric Social Workers employed by the Council and at mental hospitals
work in close co-operation.
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