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A Social Worker also attends the psychiatric out-patient clinic
held at the Wilson Hospital by a Consultant from West Park Hospital.
The Mental Health Social Workers also attend clinical conferences
at Queen Mary's Hospital when Borough cases are discussed.
Community Care of the Mentally Disordered
The number of patients receiving a case work service continues
to increase. Unfortunately, many cases cannot be followed through
because of lack of staff and, at the present time, it is only possible for
the Mental Welfare Officers to deal with those cases who are specifically
referred by the Hospital or General Practitioner for community
care. This means, in practice, that when a patient is admitted to hospital
the supervision is considered to have lapsed unless, and until,
the case is referred on discharge. This means, of course, that we are
unable to give the support to patients in hospital which would be reassuring
and helpful towards their return to the community.
This break in our services we try to overcome by our contacts
with the hospital staff, but it is clearly not always in the patient's interest
to have no contact with the social workers whilst they are in
hospital, and there is always the possibility that on discharge the
Borough will either not be notified or asked to recommence supervision.
The position is complicated by the fact that Merton is not part
of a catchment area for one hospital and patients are admitted to
three different psychiatric hospitals.
Some more requests are being made for preventive work with
people who have not yet experienced breakdowns leading to hospitalisation
and it is clear that, with an improved casework service the
Mental Welfare Officers will be spending less time on dealing with
emergencies. Emphasis on the preventive field offers new opportunities
for a positive approach to mental health.
Attachment to Group Practice
The important feature which was reported in last year's Annual
Report, where a Mental Welfare Officer commenced a weekly session
undertaking interviews on the premises of a Group Practice of Doctors,
has proved to be a most valuable and useful part of the community
services, so much so, that in the present year this scheme has
been extended to two other practices.
The Doctors in the Group Practice have also attended the InService
Training Seminars, led by Dr. Brook, Consultant Psychiatrist
of the Cassel Hospital, and were actively co-operative in the venture.
Such attachments should form the basis of a good community Health
Service.
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