“Put Away”—For How Long?

Abstract

MORRIS¹ has stated that “In subnormality hospitals … most patients, once admitted, will never leave.” In the past this was true, but the present trend is for subnormal individuals to remain at home, adequately supported by appropriate services, for as long as possible. Moreover, it has been shown that 10 per cent or less² of populations of subnormality hospitals require “detailed specialist day to day diagnosis, care and treatment”³. 80 per cent of severely subnormal children now remain at home⁴. One of the services which can extend the time for which families can tolerate a mentally handicapped dependant at home is periodic short term care in hospital. Of all admissions to mental subnormality hospitals and units in England and Wales, 48 per cent in 1964 and 60 per cent in 1966 were for informal short term care, usually for eight weeks or less⁵. We present here a short account of a study aimed at discovering whether the same factors determine short term and long term care for children and fulfil the same needs.