London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Battersea 1962

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]

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49
We were all sorry to see Mr. Wilson, the Assistant Secretary of the
Battersea Old People's Welfare Committee, go to the Willesden area
in December. During his stay in Battersea he has been of the utmost
distance to the Public Health Department and Willesden will gain by
our loss. As in 1961, through the kindness of the Old People's Welfare
Committee, we have been able to assist many old people in varying ways
and my hope last year for even more fruitful relationship with the
Committee has been amply proved during this past year.
The young people of the Borough continue to be of great service
to various old people by visiting, decorating and other useful activities
and I wish to thank them again for their enthusiastic pioneering work.
The young and the old are so often suspicious of each other and maybe
this barrier will be broken down in the light of the Battersea Youth
effort.
Finally, the number of articles from incontinent old people for
laundering by the Cleansing Station have increased to 4,377 this year.
This has now become an essential service and may indeed require to be
extended.
Removal under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948.
Emergency action had to be taken in the cases of two old ladies
during the year, following the visit of a Justice of the Peace. Both,
besides suffering from grave chronic disease, were lacking proper care
and attention and living in deplorable conditions. Both were admitted
to St. John's Hospital, where owing to the seriousness of their condition
they died after admission.
Home Safety Act, 1961 : Accidents in the Home.
The Home Safety Act, 1961, repealed and replaced Section 82 of
the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1957. The Act empowers
the Council to promote safety in the home, by publishing or
making other arrangements for giving information or advice relating to
the prevention of accidents in the home, and to contribute to non-profit
making organisations concerned with the promotion of home safety.
The following tables, compiled from reports made by the London
Ambulance Service, indicate the number of accidents occurring in
Battersea homes. Table I shows the number of accidents in 1962 in
age groups: Table II gives the numbers from various causes each year
since 1958.

HOME ACCIDENTS IN BATTERSEA.Table I

YearAge group (years)M.F.Total
under 112-45-1415-2425-4445-6465-7475 plus
1962 %5 (1.6)12 (4.0)27 (9.0)26 (8.9)22 (7.3)40 (13.2)54 (17.9)40 (13.2)75 (24.9)1ll (36.9)190 (63.1)301 (100.0)