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the Mental Health Service and the Education, Welfare Services, and
Children's Departments.
Especial thanks are due to the Metropolitan Police, who make an
after hours emergency service possible. 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
Fifty-five male and 122 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 238 Merton patients are in long-term care in hospitals
for the subnormal and severely subnormal.
It is hoped that the actual number of long-term cases in
hospitals for subnormal and severely subnormal patients will in fact
decrease progressively over the years, but this decrease will be dependent
upon alternative facilities being available outside the hospital
service. The Ministry of Health are of opinion that no child who
does not need nursing care should be admitted to a hospital for the
subnormal. It is appreciated that in many cases there is acute hardship
and there are also social reasons why a child who is handicapped
may have to be cared for away from his own home, for a while at least.
The question of educating the community, including many of those
closely associated with the care of subnormal children, is necessary
to enable them to realise that a child's needs may be met outside the
hospital setting in some cases. The challenging work of providing
care in the community may only be carried out when supported by
suitable facilities. There is also a need for vacancies to be made
available for short-term care and ample opportunities for parents to
avail themselves of the opportunities. Many parents, although anxious
and willing to care for their child in their own homes are subject to
many stresses and strains, and should be given opportunities to recharge
their energies, both mental and physical.
GUARDIANSHIP
There are no cases under guardianship in the Borough.
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