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 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton]
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THE WORK OF THE MENTAL WELFARE OFFICERS
This has continued to expand, in spite of the fact that for a period
of several months, the Section was severely undermanned, although
it was with some satisfaction that in September of this year, for the
first time since the formation of the Section some five years ago,
staffing reached the full establishment provided.
During the year, 23 men over the age of 65 years, and 63 women
over the age of 60 years, were admitted to psychiatric hospitals with
the assistance of the mental health service, out of a total of 394
admissions of all types. This means that 25% of all admissions dealt
with through the Mental Health Service were in respect of the elderly.
These figures take no account of informal admissions arranged directly
by general practitioners without the assistance of the Mental Health
Service.
SUBNORMALITY
Cases in Community Care
At the end of the year, 229 patients, as shown below, were in the community care of the Authority, as compared with 225 at the end of 1969:—
| Category of patient | Under 16 years | 16 years and over | Total | Grand Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | Male | Female | Male | Female | ||
| Subnormal patients receiving routine home visits | 1 | 6 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 34 | 66 |
| Severely subnormal patients receiving routine home visits | 40 | 36 | 43 | 44 | 83 | 80 | 163 |
| Totals | 41 | 42 | 74 | 72 | 115 | 114 | 229 |
| Patients included in above figures who are attending Junior or Adult Training Centres | 36 | 31 | 74 | 29 | 80 | 60 | 140 |
Special Care Unit
This unit continues to play a most important part in the provisions
in the community by giving help to those parents with severely subnormal
children with additional physical handicaps. It is obvious that
with the changed pattern of hospital care, there will be increasing
pressure on such units. It had become apparent, by the end of the
year, that although it had, in the past, been possible to give limited
help to the neighbouring Boroughs of Wandsworth and Sutton, the
Special Care Unit would in future be needed solely for Merton cases.
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