Record

Reference Number496.5 BA11241/E5/Box 5/1 - 3
Hierarchy Browser Number8001/1/2/19
TitleMental Deficiency Act Committee
DescriptionThree volumes of minutes of the committee: volume 1 1914-1931; volume 2 1931 - 1940; volume 3 1941 - 1948. Volume 1 is handwritten; the others are typed.

The matters discussed in the minutes include the establishment of the committee and its areas of responsiblity; conferences; reports from other council committees and officers, usually medical, education or justice, that were relevant to the Committee's functions; statistics on known mental defectives in Worcester; inspections of, agreements with, and communication with, institutions housing those considered mentally defective; joint committees and boards with other counties and corporations; financial matters and payment of maintenance by the families, Council and/or other organisation; various outside organisations and charities monitoring the treatment of mental defectives; issues surrounding the treatment, care and occupational training provided; brief reference to the debate regarding legislation permitting the steralisation of mental defectives; discussion of other Acts and legislation introduced.

The bulk of the minutes, however, is concerned with individual cases and may give the name, addresses, and the financial and family circumstances of individuals, and their nearest relatives, who had been brought to the committee's attention, and states what action should be taken, if any, and who was financially liable. The physical and mental health, progress, transfer, discharge and death of patients was often recorded. Those who were institutionalised, as opposed to receiving care at home, appeared most frequently in the minutes.
Date1914-1948
Closed Until01/01/2048
Access ConditionsClosed 100 years from date of last entry under the Data Protection Act.
Add to My Items