[Report 1965] / Medical Officer of Health, Buckinghamshire County Council.

Buckinghamshire (England). County Council. n 50052973.

Date:: 1965

Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1965] / Medical Officer of Health, Buckinghamshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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All the mentally ill patients admitted during the year were from hospital and were too handi- capped to return to their families or to lodgings. Two were cases that had previously resided in the hostel but had returned to hospital for further treatment. Many of the residents continued to receive medical treatment and regular visits were made by the medical officer of the hostel. Of the subnormal patients admitted, two were for temporary care periods only. Four were from hospital, one of these having formerly resided at Oaklands. One was a previous resident who had been given a trial in residential employment but had been unable to maintain the standard required. Three were admitted from their own homes, one of whom had been unable to find employment and the other two required considerable training. One was admitted from the care of the Children’s Department. Of the mentally ill patients discharged during the year, five had to return to hospital for further treatment, four were able to return home and continue in employment, one went into residential employment and one into lodgings and continued in her employment. One resident was transferred to Meadowlands Hostel, High Wycombe. Of the subnormal patients discharged, two were transferred to Meadowlands, one left on marriage and two left to return home and take up employment. One patient was discharged to her home as being unsuitable for hostel care and one ‘ out-county ’ case returned to her home county to take up residential employment but she subsequently returned to Oaklands. Two residents left after receiving temporary care. One patient was returned to hospital and two were admitted to hospital as they proved to be unsuitable for residence in the hostel. At Oaklands there was considerable difficulty in obtaining suitable staff and at the end of the year it had not been possible to obtain the services of a resident Deputy Warden. The number of new admis- sions had to be restricted owing to this staff shortage. Meadowlands Hostel, High Wycombe This hostel which received the first resident on 22nd March, 1965 provides accommodation for; (a) twenty adult mentally ill or subnormal women and (b) ten elderly mentally disturbed men or women. (a) The principle was adopted that the mentally ill or subnormal women admitted to Meadow- lands for training towards the leading of an independent life in the community, would be of an older age group or more handicapped than those admitted to Oaklands. Nevertheless, wherever possible, residents at Meadowlands were helped to enter employment and some placements were made during the year. Other residents attended the High Wycombe adult training centre or helped with domestic work in the hostel. Each resident cares for her personal belongings and keep her ‘ unit ’ or room clean. Admissions are made after assessment of the patient’s suitability for residence there by the Senior Medical Officer for Mental Health in consultation with hospital psychiatrists, psychiatric social workers and the warden. Details of the admissions and discharges are shown in the following table:— Admitted during 1965 Discharged dun 1965 ng In residence at 31.12.65 Mentally III Sub- normal Total Mentally III Sub- normal Total Mentally III Sub- normal Total 10 12 22 2 — 2 8 12 20 Six mentally ill patients were admitted from hospitals during the year and one was admitted from Oaklands Hostel as it was thought she would be more suitably placed at Meadowlands. One resident was admitted from an Old Persons’ Home, one from lodgings and one from her home. Of the subnormal patients, eight were admitted from hospitals, two from Oaklands Hostel, one from residential care and one from her home.