London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
West Ham 1958
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for West Ham]
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SECTION 51 - MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE
Administration
There has been no change in the general pattern of administration of this Section.
The Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts
During the year the mental welfare officers carried out the following work in
connection with these Acts.
The age incidence of these admissions was as follows:-
| Sex | 0- | 15 - | 25 - | 35 - | 45 - | 55 - | 65 - | 75 & over | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | - | 8 | 17 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 7 | 5 | 97 |
| Female | - | 11 | 15 | 37 | 31 | 21 | 24 | 21 | 160 |
| TOTAL | - | 19 | 32 | 59 | 50 | 40 | 31 | 26 | 257 |
(a) 325 calls were received in connection with mental illness and 594 visits were made to these cases.
| (b) 257 cases were admitted to hospital. | M. | F. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| (a) As Voluntary patients | 53 | 103 | 156 |
| (b) As temporary patients | 6 | 6 | 12 |
| (c) Under Urgency Orders | 3 | 9 | 12 |
| (d) Under Summary Reception Orders | 5 | 7 | 12 |
| (e) For observation | 30 | 35 | 65 |
| 97 | 160 | 257 † | |
It will be noted that 26 of these admissions were of persons aged 75 years or over,
with a total of 57 persons aged 65 and over.
In addition to making arrangements for dealing with patients under the Lunacy Act
of 1890 and the Mental Treatment Act of 1930 the mental health officers undertake a
considerable amount of work in relation to the domiciliary after-care of patients discharged
from mental hospitals and also in relation to the supervision of notified cases of mental
deficiency.
Mental Deficiency Acts, 1913-1938.
Ascertainment. Seventeen mentally handicapped persons (5 males and 12 females)
were ascertained during the year. Of these, 16 (5 males and 11 females) were reported
by the Local Education Authority (11 as being ineducable children and 5 as needing supervision
after leaving school); 1 case was reported from other sources.
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