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Laundry
The Council has no direct authority to provide a laundry service.
There does exist, however, a provision under Section 84 of the Public
Health Act, 1936, whereby the Council is empowered to cause any article
in a house to be cleansed, disinfected or destroyed if it is in such a
condition as to be a danger to healths Fouled bed linen in cases of
incontinence may be cleased under this Section.
In order to comply with legal requirements, the Medical Officer
of Health has been given a general authority by the Council to take
whatever action appears to him to be necessary under the terms of the
section.
Action was taken in 80 (72) cases„ The bedding was marked,
collected and laundered at the Council's disinfecting station at
Silchester Road Baths and returned to the persons' homes. The
provision of this service undoubtedly fulfils a much felt need.
During the year 2820 (2424) separate collections of laundry were
made and the number of articles cleansed totalled 34,654 (29,458).
Holidays
A booking for 200 active,, elderly people was arranged at
Maddieson's Holiday Caiup, Littiestone-on-Sea, Kent.
In order to satisfy the needs of the handicapped and to include
residents of Part III homes a booking was made with the Little
Oyster Holiday Camp, Minster, Isle of Sheppey. This camp has been
specially adapted for use by handicapped persons.
The staff on duty at this camp included members of the
department from head office, residential homes, a coach driver,
and members of the International Voluntary Service.
Arrangements were made to accommodate the more severely disabled,
at the Women's Royal Voluntary Services, Winged Fellowship
at Crabhill House, near Redhill, Surrey.
The total number of people for whom two weeks holiday was arranged
was 370 (351)o of whom the majority were elderly, but some were blind
and physically handicapped.
The gross cost to the Council for all holidays was £7045 (£6840).
SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION CENTRE
The Centre which is in its fourth full year of operation provides
a daily service to its members who are blind, physically handicapped or
elderly. Membership on 31st December, 1969, was 122 (130).
The staff consists of the Supervisor, Deputy Supervisor, Attendant,
kitchen and cleaning staff and a handyman/porter. The main activity of
the members is handicraft work under the instruction of tutors engaged
through the Inner London Education Authority. Instruction in carpentry
has recently been added to the already successful classes in hard and
soft crafts and pottery. Transport is provided to take all the handicapped
persons from their homes to the Centre in the morning and back
to their homes in the evening. A substantial mid-day lunch together
with morning and afternoon tea is provided. On their annual Summer
Outing the members were taken to Brighton. The outing, which included
a meal on the Pier, was greatly enjoyed by all. In October the Annual
Open Day Sale of Work, which was again held in conjunction with "Help
the Disabled Week", made it possible to display the high standard of
work achieved by the members. This was reflected in the total sum
raised from the sale of articles, £184. l6s. 7d., (£167. 5s. lid.).
The Christmas party which was held at the Centre was very well attended
and was most successful.