As you probably know, in January, 1944, the Provisional National Council for Mental Health were asked by the Board of Control to provide a Social After-Care Service for men and women discharged from Service Psychiatric Hospitals. For the purposes of this work an experienced psychiatric social worker, known as Regional After-Care Officer, was appointed to each of the Civil Defence Regions to undertake and organize this service. The psychiatric social workers visited the Psychiatric Service Hospitals in their areas, obtaining a full history and recommendations from the psychiatrist referring the case, and interviewing each patient to discuss his needs and plans. These reports were then sent to the Regional After-Care Officer in the patient's home area and formed the basis of our work.