[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.

    46/104 (page 44)
    One of the jMental Welfare Visitors referi'ed to ul)ove retired during the year on the grounds of ill health. The Sandhill Park (troup Hospital Management Connnittce decided to assume responsibility by the 1st Oetoher, lt)19, for the suiiervision of Mentally Defective patients on licence from their Inst tutions. 'Die remaining two visitors were offered appoint¬ ments in a similar capacity with the Management Committee and acce]>ted them. An api)oint- ment has been made to fill one of the vacancies and consideration will be given to the question of the remaining vacancies being filled early in the New Year. The arrangements previously made with the Tone Vale Hos])ital Management Committee for suitable training to be given to non-medical Mental Health Workei's in all such duties as are new to them in the field of rsychiatric Social Work have been continued and a course of lectures has been given by an-angement with the Medical Superintendent of the Ilosi)ital and his Deputy. Lectures have also been given to Officers in Mental Deficiency Work by the Medical Superin¬ tendent of Sandhill Park. One of the Senior Clerical Assistants is under training as a Duly Authorised Officer. General. The scheme foi' Mental Health Services as contained in the Local Health Authority's proposals under Section 51 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, is not yet fully implemented, but adjustments are being made in the light of ex2)erience. The main diffi¬ culty of inadequate hos])ital and institutional accommodation remains, but generally Si)eaking, progress through the year has been smooth and this is due to a large extent to the measure of co-operation which continues between the Local Health Authority, the Pegional Hos2)ital Board and other Authorities concerned. In addition, I would like to mention the members of the County Police Force who have been called upon during the year in several difficult cases. Their assistance has alwaj-s been readily given and is greatly a})i)reciated by the Officers of this Local Health Authority. While the general public may not yet be fully aware of the services provided for them under the Mental Health Services Scheme and of the benefit which may be brought to those suffering from mental illness or defectiveness, there is a growing recognition of its value. I would like to record my appreciation of the very valuable co-o2)eration between Medical Practi¬ tioners, Specialists and others engaged in the field of Mental Health, with the Officers of the Local Health Authority. WATER SUPPLIES. The shortage of matei’ials and long delays in the deli\ery of tittings and pipes were contri¬ butory factors in slowing progi’ess in the provision of j)iped sui){)lies to existing houses. New works mainly comjirised extensions to new Housing Sites. A new service to Priston in the Lathavon village area was comi)leted and the siqiply to Peasedown augmented. Works were also carried out to [ji'ovide additional water to Dulveiton and Brushford in the Dulverton Pural District. Steady progress is being made in the La]igpoi't rural ai'ea in cai’rviiig out Stage TI of the Eastern J’arishes scheme. The lOin. main from the borehole at Compton Diirville to the main reservoir at One Elm was com])leted and the reservoii's at both places ai'c nearing completion These works are preliminary to the provision of a supply to the six I'lastern Parishes, viz.,