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 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]
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- 104 -
PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS
There is no statutory definition in the National Assistance Act,
1948, of partial sight, but the Department of Health and Social Security
has advised that a person who although not blind within the meaning of
the Act of 1948, is, nevertheless, substantially and permanently
handicapped by congenitally defective vision or in whose case illness
or injury has caused defective vision of a substantial and permanently
handicapping character is within the scope of the Welfare Services
which the local authority are empowered to provide for blind persons.
This does not apply to other benefits specially enjoyed by the
registered blind.
The register of partially sighted persons (Table I) shows a total
of 139 (124), of whom 52 (31) were newly registered during the year
(Table II).
Training and Employment Severely handicapped There are fifty-three persons near and prospectively blind who require the full range of Welfare Services. Their circumstances are as follows:-
| Male | Female | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employed | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Undergoing training | 1 | - | 1 |
| Not available for employment or not capable of work | 4 | 39 | 43 |
| 8 | 53 (53) | ||
| Requiring observation only | - | 15 | 15 (12) |
| Industrially handicapped | |||
| The remaining persons registered are classified thus;- | |||
| Employed | 7 | 2 | 9 |
| Undergoing training | - | 1 | 1 |
| Available for and capable of training for work | 1 | - | 1 |
| Not available for work | 7 | 53 | 60 |
| 15 | 56 | 71 (63) |
Table I - Partially Sighted Persons (Registered) for the Year Ended 31st December, 1970, Showing the Distribution by Age Groups of the Partially Sighted Population
| 0-1 | 2-4 | 5-15 | 16-20 | 21-49 | 50-64 | 65 and over | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Males | - | - | 1 | - | 11 | 2 | 10 | 24 |
| Females | - | - | - | 1 | 6 | 9 | 99 | 115 |
| TOTAL | - | - | 1 | 1 | 17 | 11 | 109 | 139 (124) |