Annual report of the Board of Control to the Lord Chancellor : 1955.

Date:
1955
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report of the Board of Control to the Lord Chancellor : 1955. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    4/8 (page 4)
    Of the total admissions in 1955, 41-6 per cent, were re-admissions, as compared with about 40 per cent, in 1954: there was again little difference between the readmission rates for voluntary and certified patients. Nurses The shortage of nursing staff continued and the number of beds out of use owing to lack of staff increased during the year by 148 to 913. Many of the wards kept open only under a heavy burden of understaffing. At the end of the year the number of trained nurses in mental hospitals was 7,450 full-time and 102 part-time men, and 3,725 full-time and 1,540 part-time women. Compared with the previous year, these figures show a reduction of 36 full-time, and an increase of 29 part-time men, and a reduction of 7 whole-time and an increase of 2 part-time women. The numbers of Nursing Assistants at the end of the year were 1,423 full¬ time and 40 part-time men, and 2,982 full-time and 4,916 part-time women, a welcome increase on the previous year. The position as regards student nurses remains serious, however, and numbers under training declined rather more than during 1954. The numbers of men reduced by 62 and women by 86 as compared with 56 and 71 respectively, in 1954. There were 1,400 men and 1,962 women under training at the end of the year. Registered Hospitals, Licensed Houses, and Nursing Homes The four hospitals5*5 registered for the reception of persons suffering from mental illness provide a total of some 1,300 beds. They were visited and were found to be in their usual good condition. The licensed houses} were visited as required by statute and, in general, the conditions in them were satisfactory. In the case of two houses, however, it was necessary to draw the attention of the proprietors to certain matters requiring attention. Satisfactory improvements were made at one of these houses during the year, and the condition of the other continued under consideration. There are 9 houses licensed by the Minister of Health and 14 licensed by provincial justices, providing in all 1,108 beds. The twelve nursing homes approved by the Minister of Health for the reception of voluntary or temporary patients under the Mental Treatment Act, 1939, were visited as necessary and were found to be properly conducted. Single Patients At the end of 1955 there were 52 patients} in single care, a reduction of 8 during the year. All were visited and conditions found to be satisfactory. Broadmoor Institution This institution was regularly visited during the year. At the end of the year the nursing staff was up to strength: otherwise conditions call for no special comment. Royal Naval Hospital, Great Yarmouth, and P. Wing, Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley The usual visit was paid to each of these Service Hospitals, and satisfactory reports were received. * Cheadle Royal, near Manchester; St. Andrew’s, Northampton; The Retreat, York; and Barnwood House, Gloucester. These hospitals are not vested in the Minister of Health, but are managed upon a voluntary basis. f These are privately owned houses or homes in which patients are received for payment. t A patient in single care resides with and under the legal control of a private individual.