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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OTHER FORMS OF MENTAL DISORDER
Cases dealt with by Mental Welfare Officers
During the year 633 cases were referred to the Mental Welfare
Officers for attention and 394 other cases were admitted to mental
hospitals through the Mental Health Service.
The following table gives details:—
| Admitted informally | 236 |
| Admitted under Section 25 (for observation) | 46 |
| Admitted under Section 26 (for treatment) | 10 |
| Admitted under Section 29 (for observation in case of emergency) | 91 |
| Admitted under Section 60 (by the Courts) | 1 |
| Admitted under Section 136 (in conjunction with the Police) | 10 |
| Total | 394 |
Patients receiving Community Care
At the end of the year 150 male and 261 female patients were
being provided with community care by the Authority This shows an
increase of 39 males and 11 females compared with 1969.
Guardianship
There are no cases under guardianship in the Borough.
Cases Accomodated away from Home
The Authority, at the end of the year, was making financial
provision for the accommodation of 28 patients. A particularly close
liaison is maintained with the two Cheshire Foundation Homes in the
district, and in addition to giving supervision to the Merton cases in
residence there, the Authority has, when requested to do so, undertaken
supervision of patients from other Authorities accommodated
there.
SOCIAL WORK SECTION
Staff
At the end of the year the staff position was: —
1 Senior Social Worker.
3 Whole-time Social Workers.
2 Part-time Social Workers.
During the year, there were two staff changes. One married social
worker left the service for reasons of pregnancy and did not intend to
resume work after the birth of her child, and another social worker
left to take a year's post-graduate course as an independent student.
General
The work of the Section continued to provide a service for families
and others who ask for help because they do not fall into other
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