[Report 1949] / Medical Officer of Health, Somerset County Council.

  • Somerset Council
Date:
1949
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1949] / Medical Officer of Health, Somerset County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    44/104 (page 42)
    whose ages ranged boiween 70 and 00 years, to Weynioutli Hospital, Froine, as their homes were within easy reach oi' that Hospital. Those jiatients were not certified us of unsound mind. In other i)artsoi the (’ounty there has been no altei'native hut to send the old people concerned to Mental llos])itals for treatment, although it was known that by doing so an additdnial burden was i)laced upon the Hospital Authority and Staff in admitting, them t,o wariis in which the aceommotlation prohlein had alreatly become very acute. At the end of the yeai' it became known that the accommodation at Weymouth Ilosintal \\ould be very much reduced. It is most distressing that there should be no other course than that these old peoi)le should end their days in a mental hospital, but it is difficult to see how the problem is to be overcome The matter is cue for consideration by the Itegional Hospital J3oard, and representations are being made to them. The intention of the South \\ estern Itegional Hospital Board to close the two Hostels at Milverton which provided accommodation for some 60 mentally defective 2>atients, was noted with regret. Mental Health Clinics. It is jjroposed that in the course of time a Alental Health C’.inic shall be established for each of the County areas, but this 2>roi>osal has yet to be developed. At present, however, there are clinics at ]3ridgwater, Minehead, Taunton and Yeovil, operated by Tone Vale Hos2)ital; and Cdinics at Wells and Wsston-suj>er-Mare ojierated by the Meudip Hosi)ital Mental Health Clinics established by Hos2)itals in Bristol and Bath County Boroughs at 2)resent serve jjart of the Northern Area of the County. The clinics are held regularly at the following centres;— Name of Clinic. Started. Medical Officer. No. of Sessions. New cases seen. Average attendance per Session. Bridgwater Health Centre Minehead Hospital Taunton Hospital Yeovil Hospital Mendip Hosj^ital, Weds ... Weston-s.-Mare Hosj^ital Dec., 1932 July, 1946 Nov., 1945 April, 1931 .Mav, 1940 Dec. 1932 I Dr. Iv. C. Bailey... / 1 Dr. J. McGarvey... 52 51 48 52 52 42 34 40 189 152 r / 69 3.4 5.4 58.9 28.5 23(total) 8' After-Care. The County Council have undertaken the responsibility for certain after cai’e arrangements in res2)ert of i)ersons who have attended Mental Health Clinics or on de])arlure from Mental Hospitals. Al the reciuest of the Medical Superintendents of the Hospitals concerned in the County, the Council's Duly Authorised and Mental Welfare Officers take part in such arrangements. Such cases of patients requii'ing rest after treatment at Mental Health Clinics and Hospitals may be admitted to Holiday Cojivalescent Homes, and the Local Health Authoi’ity have accepted resi)onsibility for the fees pursuant to Section 2S (1) of the National Health Service Act, 1940. Ambulances. The removal of Mental Health ])atienLs to and from their homes and institutions is usually undertaken by the Duly Aiithoi'ised Oflicer or Mental W ellare \ isitor.