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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 80 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 1,508 separate collections of laundry were
made under this scheme, and the number of articles cleansed totalled
17,717-
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 London County Council, with the approval
of the Minister of Health, extended their functions under Section 28
of the National Health Service Act, 1946, to include a chiropody
service, giving priority to the needs of old people, the physically
handicapped and expectant mothers. They undertook to make a grant
of £175 "to the Kensington Old People's Welfare Committee for the
purpose of enabling the provision of a chiropody service for housebound
old people.
The Kensington Branch of the British Red Cross Service have
accepted responsibility for the complete administration of the service
in the borough, and all the patients are referred to them through the
public health department.
The total number of persons treated under the home chiropody
scheme was 281, and the number of treatments given was 600.
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 the Kensington
Communal Services Committee.
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 (lOd. per meal). The
Kensington Communal Services Committee supply the meals and the
vehicles for delivery.
The two organisations involved have given a considerable
amount of thought to the difficulties encountered in this service,
amongst which were the problems of keeping the meals hot} serving
them (sometimes in the van); keeping the van interior clean;
avoiding waste or spillage; and washing up.
A solution of these problems was forthcoming, when the idea
was devised of developing electric containers which could be used on
mains voltage to preheat the food and then, using another circuit,
operate off the vehicle batteries to maintain the temperature of the
food during its journey. As a result of this, it was decided to