[Report 1955] / School Medical Officer of Health, Dorset County Council.

  • Dorset (England). County Council
Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1955] / School Medical Officer of Health, Dorset County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    uardianship The total number of patients under guardianship at the end of the year was 104, compared with 107 at the end of 1954. his form of community care requires an order by a judicial authority. It gives the guardian the power of control over the patient, ul enables the local health authority to provide for his care and protection other than by institutional placement. It also enables le authority to provide for the patient's maintenance, and to meet other special expenditure if necessary. Such assistance is not ^tended to patients under statutory supervision. It is usual, however, for the financial needs of mental defectives over the age of ) years to be met by the National Assistance Board,-but other expenditure may be necessary which would not be covered by the oard’s grant. Each patient under guardianship is visited approximately twice a year by a medical officer, and welfare officers visit quarterly ■ more frequently when necessary. Training is provided at the occupation centres or by home teachers. A guardianship home situated in a rural part of the county is approved by the Board of Control for the reception of eight itients, and the owner is devoted to the work she has undertaken in caring for these handicapped people. The home is of very great isistance to the authority, not only for permanent cases, but suitable patients are placed there for holiday periods. Television is 'ovided in the sitting room, and there is a large garden. Patients are taken on coach outings in the summer, and occasional shopping :peditions; they also look forward to the regular visits by the home teacher who gives instruction in various types of handicraft work. ’atuioyy Stipervision Supervision is a most valuable branch of the mental health service. It differs from guardianship in that no legal proceedings e involved, the local health authority having no power to contribute towards the cost of a defective under supervision, and there ;ing no regulations indicating how the supervision should be carried out. There is no way of enforcing supervision against the wishes the parent or guardian of the defective, as this can only successfully be carried out with the co-operation of the famil}'^. Visits by le welfare officers are usually welcomed and, in addition to ensuring that the patient is adequately cared for, much useful help id advice can be given. Assistance in obtaining suitable employment is given when I'equired, and home teaching or admission to an xupation centre is arranged for patients incapable of earning their living. Periodical reviews of the cases take place and where supervision is considered no longer necessary appropriate action is taken r it to be withdrawn. Forty-nine new cases were placed under statutory supervision, making a total of 270 at the end of the year, and in nine cases duntary supervision has been provided. ome Teaching Two home teachers are employed to give instruction in handicrafts to defectives under guardianship or statutory supervision, id at the end of the year seventy patients were receiving regular instruction. The home teachers’ visits are much appreciated by le parents and guardians, and the patients enjoy their lessons. The scheme provides training for those living in rural areas too far stant from an occupation centre. ccupation Centres The occupation centre at Poole, which has been in existence for many years, was taken over by the county council in 1947. ach new entrant is examined by an assistant medical officer before admission, and regular medical inspections are carried out at le centre. The house is admirably suited for the purpose as the defectives can be grouped in different rooms according to their ages id degree of mental defect; there is also a pleasant garden where games and exercises are organised. Dinners cooked on the premises •e provided at a nominal charge, and the preparation of meals and kitchen work form part of the training. The centre is now full to capacity, and to meet the growing demand for places it is hoped that the extension of the premises f the building of an additional large room will be completed next year. This will also provide improved facilities for meals and hysical exercises, recreation, etc. Students undergoing a course of training for staffs of occupation centres have been sent to this centre from time to time by le National Association for Mental Health for a few weeks practical training as part of the course, and the facilities granted are uch appreciated. Some Dorset defectives attend occupation centres in other counties by arrangement with the local health authorities )ncerned. Plans are in progress for the establishment of a new centre in Weymouth, to provide for the patients living within reasonable istance of the town. ransport The county ambulance service undertakes the transport of defectives to the Poole and Yeovil occupation centres from a fairly ide and scattered area, and escorts travel with them. Cases for admission to hospital under the Lunacy and Mental Treatment .\cts arc normally conveyed by hired transport due ) the difficulty in arranging for a hospital car at short notice, but the county ambulance service is utilised when necessary. All male patients admitted to hospital are accompanied by a female attendant. (atislics Details of mental defectives under Care at 31s/ December, 1955 Under 16 Over 16 Totals Males Females M ales Females Under Guardianship 1 — 38 65 104 Under Statutory Supervision 63 42 69 96 270 Under Voluntary Supervision 2 — 4 3 9 Attending Occupation Centres . . 18 9 12 20 59 Receiving home teaching 9 10 14 37 70 In institutions (including cases on licence) 37 19 222 211 489 In an Approved Home 4 8 12
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