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
Merton 1966
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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OTHER FORMS OF MENTAL DISORDER
1. Cases dealt with by Mental Welfare Officers
During the year 292 cases were referred to Mental Welfare
Officers for attention.
One hundred and ninety-one patients were admitted to Mental Hospitals through the Mental Health Service. Details of these admissions are given below:—
| Males. | Females. | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admitted informally | 26 | 40 | 66 |
| Admitted under Section 25 (for observation) | 13 | 9 | 22 |
| Admitted under Section 26 (for treatment) | 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Admitted under Section 29 (for observation in case of emergency) | 32 | 43 | 75 |
| Admitted under Section 60 (by the Courts) | — | 1 | 1 |
| Admitted under Section 136 (in conjunction with Police) | 9 | 10 | 19 |
| Totals | 81 | 110 | 191 |
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.
Whilst the total number of admissions to hospital has increased,
it is worth noting that the number of informal admissions has also
increased. Every effort is made to ensure that patients are admitted
informally, and where this is not possible, under Section 25 or 26 of
the Mental Health Act. However, the emergency admissions for observation
are not always within the control of Mental Welfare Officers
who are sometimes merely in a position of being called upon to arrange
transport to hospital, since the application for emergency admission
is made by relatives. There are cases clearly where the doctor might
take more advantage of the domiciliary visits by hospital consultants or
approved doctors to ensure that no patient is deprived of his or her
liberty merely on one medical recommendation. It must be appreciated,
however, that the admissions under Section 29 of the Mental
Health Act sometimes take place at night or at week-ends, and there
are occasions when it is difficult, if not impossible, for a consultant to
be available, and the number would not appear to be unduly high.
The need for reducing the number of emergency admissions is borne
in mind. It is encouraging to see the steady increase of informal admissions
indicating that the Mental Health staff have had the opportunity
of dealing with calls for help in the early stages.
Mental Welfare Officers continue to receive ready co-operation
from other Sections of the Department, particularly Health Visitors,
District Nurses and Public Health Inspectors, the School Health Service
and the Home Help Service. Close contact is also fostered between
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