[Report 1950] / Medical Officer of Health, Norfolk County Council.

  • Norfolk County Council
Date:
1950
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1950] / Medical Officer of Health, Norfolk County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    52/98 (page 46)
    given for the officers to see different types of cases and to be advised of forms of treatment, etc. It is hoped to extend this refresher course in the coming year to mental deficiency and other aspects of the work. With the co-operation of the Leeds local health authority. Miss S. E Gee, supervisor of the Sprowston occupation centre, spent two weeks at the Leeds occupation centres in order to gain a wider knowledge of occupation centre training and work. WORK UNDERTAKEN IN THE COMMUNITY. Under the Lunacy and Mental Treatment Acts by the duly authorised officers. These officers continued to maintain the closest possible liaison with the medical staffs of the mental hospitals and to assist the general practitioners and the public in every aspect of the mental health service, no regard being paid as to whether or not the officers had any statutory responsibility for the action required. Encouragement of the admission of voluntary patients continued and arrangements were made for transport wherever necessary. The general practitioners and the duly authorised officers work very closely together and, in consultation with the medical superintendents, endeavour to ensure that the best method of dealing with each patient is followed. After-care under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946. A conference was held between the medical superintendents of the two mental hospitals and the mental deficiency colony, in relation to the after-care of patients discharged from the mental hospitals and mental defectives on licence, etc., from the colony, and considered the desirability of avoiding over¬ lapping of visitation between the hospitals’ and colony staff and the Council's staff. The medical superintendents expressed themselves as satisfied that adequate and complete liaison existed in the after-care scheme, but stated that if the Council could appoint a psychiatric social worker this would be of great assistance in meeting the needs of the area. Minor points of administration were discussed and details settled between the officers con¬ cerned. The existing procedure whereby the medical superintendents forward to the Council information as to each case discharged and also detailed notes in those cases where after-care is requested, has continued. As will be seen from the statistical report, the number of cases subject to after-care visitation and assistance by the Council’s staff was 175 at the 31st December. The medical superintendents expressed the view that there was a very great need for a hostel to be established in the county for discharged mental patients in order to assist them (the patients) to re-establish themselves in the community. This would particularly apply to those persons whose home backgrounds or previous history make re-establishment very difficult in their own homes or, in the case of single persons, who cannot obtain suitable lodgings. This question was still under review at the end of the year. Pre-care. In the field of pre-care the practice is for the local welfare officers to discuss cases with general practitioners and with the medical superintendent of the appropriate mental hospital and, wherever necessary, arrangements are made, either through the patient’s doctor or through the hospital, for a