[Report 1960] / Medical Officer of Health, Northampton County Borough.

Mental Disorder {continued) Supervision. Local health authorities are responsible for the care of mentally disordered persons, i.e., their ascertainment, supervision, and training. The main source of ascertainment is the local education authority, though some cases come through other agencies, such as the health visitor, family doctor, etc. Most mentally disordered persons known to this Authority continue to live m their own homes and receive visits of supervision. Some, how¬ ever, require hospital accommodation and there were thirteen on the waiting list at the end of 1960. Parents are encouraged to, and do, come to the Mental Welfare Officer for advice or assistance regarding their particular child or adult. It is important that those surrounding a mentally disordered person should be helped to understand and deal with his nature, so that he may be given the best chance of developing. Parents of severely subnormal children, who receive our special consideration, welcome the visits of the Mental Welfare Officers and many problems are talked over and solutions reached. The following summarises the work carried out:— Visits to supervision cases ... 573 Interviews at Office . 155 Other visits in connection with supervision cases . 108 (See also Short Term Care in Cases of Urgency and Training Centre, on pages 67 and 68). Co-operation with Regional Hospital Boards. A considerable amount of time has been devoted by the Mental Welfare Officers relative to various inquiries detailed below :— Reports on licence cases . 15* Reports on homes regarding suitability for holiday or leave 11 Special reports by medical and mental welfare officers. 15 Total ....... 41 *In addition, 103 visits and interviews were made for which written reports were not required. Leave. One of the chief aims of the psychiatric hospital is to prepare and train as many patients as possible to fit into the community. At the end of the year 8 female and 2 male patients were on leave from various hospitals. These patients were supervised and periodically reported on to their appropriate authorities. The development of an adequate relationship between the patient and the Mental Welfare Officer is very important. Thanks are due to those employers who have willingly co-operated in providing opportunities for patients to have trial periods in work. This co-operation has been a great factor in efforts to befriend the patient by every means possible. A patient coming straight from a hospital, perhaps after many years there, lacks experience of life and people, and under¬ standing on the part of employers and fellow employees will often avert a breakdown. The number of visits and reports made were as follows:— Visits to leave cases ..... 144 Progress reports submitted . 15