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FORWARD PLANNING
Residential Homes
Former Public Assistance Institution - King's Mead
Reference was made in last year's report to a proposal by the
former Ministry of Health to offer sites at Springfield Hospital,
Wandsworth, for the erection of two homes each of sixty beds as part
replacement of King's Mead, a large institution of 317 beds, which is
due for closure and the site of which was required by the Ministry.
The London Borough of Wandsworth objected to the proposal of another
authority developing homes for the elderly on the site and no further
progress has been made in this direction.
During the ensuing year, however, the Council's Welfare Committee
have decided to commence the running down programme by closing some of
the accommodation at King's Mead when Dovehouse Court, this Council's
new home for the elderly at Yeading Green, Ealing, (92 beds) opens in
the autumn 1969 and to reduce further the large home accommodation
when an additional new home (60 beds) on the Edenham Street site at
Kensal New Town is opened early in 1971. It is anticipated that loan
sanction will shortly be granted for this home. At the same time,
the London Borough of Hammersmith will open two new homes during 1971
to enable that authority to further the reduction of resident beds at
King's Mead at present occupied by Hammersmith residents in accordance
with a sharing agreement.
The closure programme cannot be completed until a further site or
sites are obtained to enable the Royal Borough to transfer the remaining
number of residents. Negotiations concerning the Development of
the King's Mead site are meanwhile proceeding with the Department of
Health and Social Security as successors to the former Ministry of
Health.
Temporary Accommodation
The Greater London Council has indicated that by the end of 1970
the premises 144/148 Earls Court Road will be required for the programme
for the widening and redevelopment of the West Cromwell Road. Replacement
of the premises is, therefore, now a matter of urgency. In
acquiring premises, account will be taken of the need for accommodation
for the larger family. The Welfare Committee are pleased to record
their appreciation of the assistance given by the Housing Committee in
placing suitable homeless families in more permanent accommodation.
The Welfare Committee have started an informal play group at the
reception centre, Trenmar Lodge, which will be available for parents to
leave children for a few hours on the occasions when they need to be
free to seek permanent accommodation, attend hospitals, clinics, etc.
It will also enable staff to give elementary play guidance to those
children of homeless families whose cultural background has not included
the use of simple playthings and games.
Young Chronic Disabled
Preliminary discussions have been commenced with neighbouring
London Boroughs concerning the need for suitable residential accommodation
for a small number of young chronic disabled persons in each
Borough who cannot be cared for at home and can, through the present
shortage of suitable homes, sometimes look forward only to permanent
stay in hospital or in an old people's home. Often the accommodation
ultimately found is so far away as to make visits from relatives an all
too rare event. The discussions may reveal that it would be possible
for these Boroughs to share in the development of a residential home
specially designed for this purpose and situated within easy distance
of the young handicapped person's home.