[Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough.

  • St. Helens (Merseyside, England). County Borough Council.
Date:
1951
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1951] / Medical Officer of Health, St Helens County Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1 case with pre-marital difficulties, almost on the verge of a complete break¬ down, was treated successfully through her general practitioner. 1 case was admitted to a convalescent home. 1 case (married) with continual home trouble, was referred to the Marriage Guidance Council, and her son interested in a local youth organisation. 4 cases received supervisory visits. Care. In this sphere of activity it was found that the majority of the problems dealt with arise in family life as a result of the admission of a member of the family to hospital. Advice and assistance were sought from the Mental Health Department on many occasions by relatives and not infrequently by request of the patients themselves. In many instances also at the request of Consultant Hospital Psychiatrists in the area home visits were paid to relatives of in-patients and social histories comoleted. jk During the year 56 visits were made in dealing with the undermentioned cases 20 cases of patients in hospitals whose home difficulties were to some extent retarding their recovery. These involved National Insurance prob¬ lems, National Assistance grants, pensions, housing difficulties and property worries. 18 cases in respect of which social histories were completed. 1 case under voluntary treatment, allowed out for leave, who defaulted and was persuaded to return to hospital and complete his treatment. 2 cases in which financial help was obtained and domestic difficulties over children settled. After-Care. The following summary gives the Local Health Authority’s after-care record during 1951 :— Number on list at 1.1.1951 . 85 Discharged persons requesting after-care . 103 188 Deleted from list during 1951 .. . 37 Number on list at 31.12.1951 . 151 The Mental Health Workers continued the work of the rehabilitation of persons discharged from hospital, giving advice and assistance on financial matters, contacting welfare officers of local industries, the Disablement Resettlement Section of the Ministry of Labour and other organisations which could provide aid. In dealing with the following cases during the year, 183 home visits were made by the Mental Health Workers. 22 cases requiring further treatment who were re-admitted to hospitals. 11 cases completely recovered, who did not need further after-care treatment. 18 cases in need of light employment were referred to the Disablement Resettlement Officer. 4 cases were found other employment. 20 cases with slight deterioration were successfully treated as out-patients.