London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Kensington and Chelsea 1967
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]
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In addition,, the Kensington and Chelsea Old People's Welfare Committee made the following grants from its funds:-
| £. | s. | d. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Luke's Club No. 1 | 20. | 0. | 0. |
| Leisure Club for Disabled | 25. | 0. | 0. |
| West London Angling Club | 5. | 0. | 0. |
| Rugby Club | 15. | 0. | 0. |
| Six Bells Club | 4. | 6. | 6. |
| North Kensington O.A.P. Association | 15. | 0. | 0. |
| St. Thomas O.A.P. Club | 10. | 0. | 0. |
| Third Feathers Youth Club | 15. | 0. | 0. |
| Alexander & Seventh Feathers Club | 15. | 0. | 0. |
| Chelsea Housing Improvement Society | 15. | 0. | 0. |
| Chelsea Over Sixty Club | 15. | 0. | 0. |
| St. Luke's Club - Ifield Road | 10. | 0. | 0. |
| Home from Home Club | 31. | 1. | 0. |
| National Old People's Welfare Council | 5. | 5. | 0. |
| Greater London Conference on Old People's Welfare | 5. | 5. | 0. |
WELFARE OF THE BLIND
The statutory definition for the purpose of registration as a
blind person under the National Assistance Act, 1948, is that the
person is "so blind as to be unable to perform any work for which
eyesight is essential".
The number of persons newly registered as blind during 1967 was
54, twelve being men and forty-two women. Table I showing the
distribution in age groups of the 420 registered blind persons
ordinarily resident in the borough. The majority of new registrations
are in the age groups of sixty-five and over, which is consistent with
figures produced for national statistics.
The analysis of causes of blindness in newly registered persons
is shown in Table II.
An analysis of the register showing the education, training and
employment position is given in Tables III and IV.
It will be seen that a total of 303 persons are over sixty-five
years of age, leaving a total of 113 adults, of whom 46 are either not
available for, or not capable of, work.
At the Council's Rehabilitation Centre, Gertrude Street, a social
club for the blind is held every Tuesday. A social welfare officer,
who is a qualified home teacher, organises the club which has 19 members,
Games equipment is provided and other activities includeda Christmas
party and an outing.
Close liaison is maintained with voluntary organisations; viz.
the Royal National Institute for the Blind; the London Association
for the Blind, the Southern Regional Association for the Blind;
St. Dunstan's and the National Library for the Blind. Referrals for
employment and training are made to the Disablement Resettlement
Officer of the Ministry of Labour, with whom consultation is arranged
in cases of special difficulty.
The number of home visits made to blind persons during the year
was 1,646 (1,641).
A brief summary of the special facilities available to registered
blind persons is given below;-
Free wireless on loan from the Wireless for the Blind Fund
Free wireless licence
Free dog licence (for guide dogs)
Special postal rates for Braille literature