London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
St Pancras 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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The following is a short summary of this combined effort:
| No. of voluntary visitors. (An attempt is made to visit an old person once a week) | 90 |
| No. of holidays arranged | 124 |
| Total attendance at the Chiropody Clinic | 1,396 |
| Total attendance at the Medical Clinic | 521 |
| No. of persons provided with a wireless set | 61 |
| No. of meals provided in the home | 9,914 |
| No. of meals subsidised in restaurants | 3,498 |
| No. of visits made by Council's Health Officers | 2,494 |
| No. of special cases visited by Deputy Medical Officer of Health together with the Chief Sanitary Inspector | 33 |
Mr. A. W. Davey, the Housing Manager, has given me the following report on the housing
of old people:
"Careful attention is paid to elderly persons, especially in known cases of
hardship, and every endeavour is made to advise and obtain any assistance which
may be necessary. Reassessments of supplementary pensions and rent allowances
have been obtained and cases referred by the Housing Manager to the National
Assistance Board have always received prompt attention, usually resulting in benefit
to the applicant.
Aged tenants are all well known to the Council's Estate Managers and also
have immediate supervision by resident caretakers or responsible tenants. Where
old people are living in requisitioned property, however, the position becomes more
difficult, but it is largely overcome by the Area Estate Manager having a resident in
the house who will contact him should the necessity arise.
A property in Albany Street owned by the Council became vacant during
the year and was adapted to provide one room accommodation for 8 old people,
together with rooms on the top floor for a House Warden. The house is fully occupied
by 8 elderly persons (two of whom are blind). Each room has a sink and water supply,
gas cooking stove and a gas fire.
There is a growing need for this type of accommodation and any suitable
property becoming available might with advantage be considered for this purpose.
During the past 12 months 89 old people have been rehoused in accordance with the ' Points Scheme' by the Council
| Over 70 | 23 single old people. |
| 3 couples. | |
| Aged 60 to 70 | 32 single old people. |
| 14 couples. |
Of a total of 40 bed-sitting room flats occupied during the last 12 months,
31 have been let to persons over 60 years of age."
Conclusion.
In my last annual report I referred to the necessity for the closest co-operation between
the Public Health Department and the general practitioners attending patients in the Borough,
and once again I am happy to express my thanks for the co-operation and friendship I have
invariably received.