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In my opinion, there are three basic principles for good public
health, namely, pure, wholesome food to eat and drink; clean air to
breathe; and good housing. The Council are very active in all
three directions.
Insofar as pure air is concerned, one smoke control area
became operative in October 1958, and another area will become
operative on 1st July 1960. It is planned to prepare areas so that
a new one becomes operative each year until, eventually, the whole
Borough will be smoke controlled.
Last, but not least, I should like to comment briefly on
services for the elderly. Embodied in this report will be found a
full description of the survey of old people in the Borough, and the
annual report of the Municipal Club and the Meals on Wheels Service.
Respecting the survey, 2,721 old people have been visited and
full particulars of their condition and needs have been obtained and
filed. As the report shows, the work is an ever increasing one;
some of the old people require two or three weekly visits; others are
living in such satisfactory conditions that a six monthly or annual
visit is all that is required. Judging from the reports by the three
visitors now employed, it would appear that each can probably cope
with a visiting list of 1,200 and, assuming that the total elderly
population of the Borough is about 6,000, it is probable that more
assistance will be necessary in the future.
The Municipal Club and the occupational workshop are full
to capacity and I feel there is need for another club, with its own
kitchens, to be established in the Rotherhithe district. At some
future date the Council will, no doubt, consider the practicability of
this course.
There is no doubt in my mind that there is still much to be
done for the elderly. Much useful preventive work can be done to
make their lives more pleasant, to keep them active and more
self-reliant, and to prevent many of them becoming chronic bed
cases. This can be accomplished by the co-operative action of
preventive and curative medicine. As things are at present, the
preventive side is within the province of the London County Council
and I feel that the care and after care of the aged could well be
delegated by the L.C.C. to the Borough Councils. The Borough
Councils could then enlist the co-operation of the general prac-titioners
in their districts and, together, establish a most useful and
a much needed service.
I would like to thank the Chairman and members of the
Public Health Committee for their tolerance and encouragement;
I have been most happy and honoured to serve.