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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 health. Fouled bed linen in cases of
incontinence may be cleansed 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 76 (80) cases. The bedding was marked,
collected and laundered at the Council's disinfecting station at
Silchester Road Baths and returned to the persons' homes, This service
meets a real need. During the year 2,500 (2,820) separate collections
of laundry were made and the number of articles cleansed totalled
31,497 (34,654).
Holidays
A booking for 200 active elderly people was arranged at various
hotels at Cliftonville, 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 Camps, 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 a number of
volunteers.
Due to the temporary closure of Crabhill House, the more severely
handicapped spent a very enjoyable holiday at Mary's Mead, near
Sevenoaks, a holiday home run by the Multiple Sclerosis Society,
The total number of people for whom two weeks holiday was arranged
was 400 (370) of whom the majority were elderly but some were blind
and physically handicapped.
The gross cost to the Council for all holidays was £7,770
(£7,045).
SOCIAL AND REHABILITATION CENTRE
The Centre which is in its fifth full year of operation provides
a daily service to its members who are blind, physically handicapped or
elderly. Membership on 31st December, 1970, was 139 (122).
The staff consists of the Supervisor, Deputy Supervisor, Attendant,
kitchen staff and a part-time handyman/porter. Since November cleaning
has been carried out under contract the cost of which is offset by not
retaining the services of the cleaning staff. The main activity of the
members is handicraft work under the instruction of tutors engaged
through the Inner London Education Authority. Instruction continues
in carpentry,, 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 midday
lunch together with morning and afternoon tea is provided. On their