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Laundry. At present no direct authority exists for
the Council to provide a laundry service, as such, for old
people. Section 122 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
enables the Council to cause any article in a house in the
borough to be cleansed, disinfected or destroyed if it is in
such a filthy, dangerous or unwholesome condition that
health is affected or endangered thereby. The cleansing of
grossly fouled bedding in cases of incontinence may be dealt
with under this section.
To comply with the legal requirements, the Council have
given a general authority to the Medical Officer of Health
to take whatever action appears to be requisite under the
terms of Section 122 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
In 66 cases action was taken on an experimental basis.
The bedding was marked, laundered at the Council's disinfecting
station and returned to the old people. The scheme works
smoothly and appears to fill a much felt want. Prom stocks
of bedding held, the Council are able to supply linen and
bedding on loan to old people while their own is being
laundered, and where possible voluntary organisations are
asked to undertake replacements of much worn articles.
During the year, 304 separate collections of laundry
were made under this scheme, and the number of articles
cleansed totalled 2,233.
Library facilities. The Libraries Committee co-operate
in providing books for old people confined to their homes.
The circulation of the books is effected by the Women's
Voluntary Services mobile library.
Chiropody. On the 22nd May, 1951, the Council decided
to make a grant of £24 to the Kensington Council of Social
Service for the purpose of a chiropody service for house-bound
old people and, in the first instance, the treatment of old
people was limited to ten per month at a cost of 4s. per
treatment.
All patients are referred by the Medical Officer of Health
to the Council of Social Service which administers the financial
aspect of the scheme. The British Red Cross Society arrange
the treatments, including providing the chiropodist and making
the appointments.
After the scheme had been in operation for a few months,
it was found that the majority of cases required multiple
treatment and practically all required follow-up, with the
result that there was likely to be progressive delay before
new cases could receive attention. The Council therefore
decided to extend the chiropody scheme to allow for a further
ten treatments each month.
The total number of home chiropody treatments given
during the year was 74.
Meals service. The arrangements for meals either
delivered to old people in their homes or in canteens were
continued with great success by the Women's Voluntary Services
in conjunction with Kensington Communal Kitchens.
The Women's Voluntary Services undertake the work of
verifying the bona fides of applicants, arrange delivery of
meals at the homes of old people and collect the money. The
Kensington Communal Services Committee supply the meals and
allow the use of three vehicles for delivery.