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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 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 him to be necessary under the
terms of Section 122 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936.
In sixty-four cases action was taken under the Section.
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. From 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 five hundred and sixty-two separate
collections of laundry were made under this scheme, and the
number of articles cleansed totalled five thousand, five hundred
and two.
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
During the year, the Council made a grant of £96 to the
Kensington Council of Social Service for the purpose of a
chiropody service for house-bound old people. The treatment
of old people was increased from thirty to forty per month
during the year, each treatment costing the Council 4/-.
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 chiropodists
and making the appointments.
The total number of persons treated under the home
chiropody scheme was one hundred and sixty-seven and the number
of treatments given was four hundred and twenty.
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 (8d.
per meal). The Kensington Communal Services Committee supply
the meals and the vehicles for delivery.
The following statement shows the progress of the service
and financial effect since it was taken over by the