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35
Transport
The Council now owns a fleet of six coaches which convey both children
and adults to the training centres. The acquisition of these coaches has
proved extremely beneficial to the trainees. Coach journeys are now much
shorter and in most cases it is possible to pick up and return to their own
homes. The service is more reliable than that experienced with private hire
coaches, trainees attend more regularly, punctuality is maintained thus
enabling a full programme of training to be given. In addition, the coaches
are available for outings to places of interest and for excursions to the
seaside. During the training centre holidays the coaches are used by the day
centres for the mentally ill for outings to places of interest.
Special Care Units
The special care units, one for 20 children 5-16 years, in specially
adapted premises and one for 12 children 0-5 years attached to the junior
training centre again proved immensely valuable in the provision of community
care. Children thought to be untrainable have made remarkable progress and
the relief to their parents is greatly appreciated by them.
The waiting lists for admission to these units are very long and the
provision of more special care accommodation is, in my opinion, one of the
most urgent priorities.
Short tern Care and Recuperative Holidays
Short term care for mentally handicapped children and adults is provided
in cases of sudden family emergencies and where the family need a well
deserved rest or holiday. During the year 43 patients benefited from this
service. The situation with regard to vacancies for short term care remains
very difficult and a great deal of help is given in this direction by various
voluntary organisations who have established private homes.
Recuperative holidays are provided for patients recovering from mental
illness and in some cases to prevent hospital admission or re-admission.
19 patients were given recuperative holidays during the year.
Permanent Care
9 patients were admitted to psychiatric hospitals for the subnormal.
The position regarding permanent care grows worse each year and many patients
especially children who require hospital care are unable to receive it either
through lack of accommodation or shortage of staff in the hospitals.
The Council has recognised the very heavy burden placed on parents and
families in having to care for a severely handicapped member and provides
relief in the form of long stay accommodation at no charge to the parents.
This accommodation is maintained in most cases by voluntary organisations
and private individuals. At the end of the year 34 Hackney residents were
so placed.
Development Assessment Clinic
This clinic provides a service for the assessment of children under the
age of 5 years who do not appear to be making normal developmental progress.
This clinic is staffed by a specialist medical officer and was held on 44
occasions, 123 children being examined. Advice and guidance is given to the
parents and the clinic enables the community mental health service to be
offered at a very early stage. It also enables an accurate diagnosis to be
made and eliminates any doubt of the child's condition.
Co-operation with Hospitals, Voluntary Societies etc.
Close co-operation has been maintained with the catchment area psychiatric
hospitals, Hackney Hospital and Long Grove Hospital for the mentally ill, St.
Lawrence's Hospital and South Ockendon Hospital for the mentally subnormal.
The Department's mental welfare officers attend the frequent case conferences
and the consultant psychiatrists have provided an excellent service of