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These figures do not include a large number of informal admissions
arranged directly by general practitioners, or admitted informally
through Psychiatric Out-patient Clinics. The informal cases listed
above are only those where the Department has rendered assistance,
and are probably but a fraction of the total number of informal admissions
from the Borough.
Mental Welfare Officers received ready co-operation from other
Sections of the Department, particularly from Health Visitors, but
also from Public Health Inspectors, the School Health Service, and
the Home Help Service. There is also a close liaison, and frequent
contact, with the Education, Welfare Services, and Children's Departments.
Especial thanks are due to the Metropolitan Police, who make
possible an after-hours emergency service. Doctors requiring the duty
Mental Welfare Officer out of office hours telephone the Police who
refer them to the appropriate Mental Welfare Officer.
2. PATIENTS RECEIVING COMMUNITY CARE
Forty-nine male and 75 female patients were being provided with
community care by the Authority, at the end of the year.
The supervision of mentally ill persons within the community
is carried out by Mental Welfare Officers and Social Workers and
covers a very wide range of activities. This may be to assist patients
with their material problems, or in supporting them through bouts of
depression, or periods of more serious illness where admission to hospital
is being avoided. Some of these are chronic cases and could not
survive in the community otherwise. It is in this sphere that the
Mental Welfare Officer often has the care of elderly people and the
chronically ill.
In all activities associated with community care a close liaison
is maintained with the general practitioner and with hospital staff,
wherever possible.
PATIENTS IN HOSPITAL
It is known from records maintained by the Mental Health
Section, that 229 Merton patients are in long-term care in hospitals
for the subnormal and severely subnormal.
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