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GENERAL PROVISION OF HEALTH
SERVICES IN THE AREA.
Welfare of Aged Persons.
The Council pays an annual grant to the Camberwell Old
People's Welfare Association for the provision of meals, recreation,
etc., for old people living in the Borough. Assistance is
also given to that Association by providing additional transport
on four days each week for the distribution of midday meals
to those persons who are unable to attend at one of the Old
People's Dinner Clubs.
In the early part of the year a full-time Organising Secretary
was appointed to co-ordinate the work of the Association
and office accommodation was provided for her in the Town
Hall. This has considerably facilitated close co-operation with
the Public Health Department and with the Divisional Staff
of the London County Council at 29 Peckham Road.
To assist in forming the nucleus of a register of old persons
living in Camberwell, the Housing Department, at the request
of the Medical Officer of Health, furnished a list of the names
and addresses of all old-age pensioners living in properties
controlled by the Council. These people were visited by the
district sanitary inspectors to ensure that they were able to
devote proper care and attention to themselves, and where
necessary, the London County Council were requested to assist
by providing home help or nursing services and the Camberwell
Old People's Welfare Association were notified in order that
their helpers might visit and make arrangements for the provision
of meals, etc.
It sometimes happens that an aged person who is unable
to look after himself or herself by reason of infirmity or illhealth
is unwilling to receive assistance of any kind from the
authorities in spite of the persuasive efforts of all concerned.
These cases gradually deteriorate until they become a danger
to themselves and to the health of other people. It then
becomes necessary to put into operation the provisions of
Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, to secure
their compulsory removal to an institution. During 1951, four
old persons were dealt with under these statutory powers and
were removed to Newington Lodge, 182 Westmoreland Road,
S.E.17.
On 1st September, 1951, the National Assistance (Amend-ment)
Act, 1951, came into force. This Act gave local authorities