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
Bermondsey 1959
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1959
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Table VI—Housing
| Age | Male | Female | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L.C.C. | B.B.C. | Private | L.C.C. | B.B.C. | Private | |
| 50—59 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 11 |
| 60—64 | 2 | 9 | 17 | 10 | 31 | 75 |
| 65—69 | 4 | 30 | 77 | 24 | 102 | 191 |
| 70—74 | 10 | 55 | 107 | 30 | 120 | 299 |
| 75—79 | 10 | 61 | 113 | 26 | 133 | 256 |
| 80—89 | 13 | 48 | 80 | 25 | 127 | 213 |
| 90+ | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 24 |
| 43 | 211 | 406 | 121 | 530 | 1,069 | |
At the outset of the survey, with the assistance of the Housing
Director, a list was made of those old people living in Borough
Council property and visiting of these was commenced. It is now
felt that a good proportion of these have been located and, assuming
the total number of old people living in the Borough to be around
7.000. it may be expected, as the survey continues, that the great
majority of this number will be found to be occupying private
accommodation.
General During the past year alone, 5,781 visits have been made to elderly people by the Welfare Assistants, as follows:—
| Miss E. Collins (Jan.-Aug.) | 1,531 |
| Mr. W. White (Sept.-Dec.) | 999 |
| Mrs. P. Kirby | 2,489 |
| Mrs. M. V. Reynolds | 423 |
| Mrs. N. Witherden (Nov. & Dec.) | 339 |
| 5,781 |
Already the Welfare Assistants are becoming known by the
elderly people in their districts and this personal approach is doing
a great deal to bring a feeling of confidence and security to them
with the knowledge that there is still some person or persons
waiting to help them, when required. This is further demonstrated
by the fact that more than 120 specific requests for assistance were
made on the prepaid postcards supplied to the old people for this
purpose, apart from the number received by personal call at the
department or via Home Helps, neighbours, etc.