London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Fulham 1960

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]

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Although the overall total visits have decreased during the last five years, the visits to the age group over 65 years have increased as follows

YearTotal visits to over 65'sPercentage of Total
195639,22167%
195741, 20672%
195842,81675%
195941,77076%
196044, 51382%

OLD PEOPLE' S WELFARE IN FULHAM
INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY MR. C. F, THATCHER', LL.B.,
HONORARY SECRETARY FULHAM OLD PEOPLE'S WELFARE COMMITTEE
The Ftolham Old People's Welfare Committee is a co-ordinating and
advisory body set up for the furtherance of old people's welfare in the
Borough of Fulham. It is a voluntary organisation which has as its
members, representatives of authorities and organisations concerned
with the welfare of the aged. It derives its income mainly from
grants from the Borough Council. The following activities in this
field have been selected as being of general interest.
Meals on Wheels and Luncheon Clubs
These services, which are undertaken mainly by the Women's
Voluntary Service in co operation with the Committee, enable a hot
midday meal to be provided either in the homes of old people who are
infirm and cannot manage to prepare a meal for themselves or at one of
the four centres in the Borough run by voluntary organisations. The
charge to old people is 10d, although the cost of each meal is 2/6d
the balance being made up of the London County Council's subvention of
1/- and a subsidy of 8d. from the Borough Council, In the spring of
1961, the price of the meals from the local caterer was increased from
2/- to 2/6d as it was found impossible to continue to obtain a meal of
the standard required at a figure of 2/- The increase, however
was not passed on to the old people who receive the meals, but has
become an additional charge to be met by the Borough Council who also
accept the responsibility for providing a delivery van and a driver
Difficulty is still being experienced in the recruitment of voluntary
help for delivering the meals to the housebound and also for serving
them at luncheon clubs and it is unfortunate that this problem prevents
a much needed extension of this work The total number of meals
supplied by this service for the period ist January to 31st December
i960, was 20 364 an increase of 2,061 over the previous year
Invalid Meals
Special dietetic meals for invalids have hitherto been provided
by Invalid Meals for London In January 1960 however, due to
administrative and financial difficulties Invalid Meals for London
found it impossible to continue their work and in an emergency the
London County Council used their powers under the National Health
Service Act 1946 to undertake the service themselves The County
Council now propose that legislation should be promoted to empower