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

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Finsbury 1953

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

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17
A brochure detailing the various services available to men over
65 years and women over 60 years resident in the Borough, was
issued during the year and was much appreciated both by the elderly
themselves and by the various statutory and voluntary organisations
in the Borough.
The Council also continued to co-operate in the health publicity
programme organised by the London County Council Health Division
III.
It may also be said that the character of the Health Centre
building which houses the Public Health Department was deisgned
to inspire the conception of Health among the many members of
the public who use it for one purpose or another.
Aged Persons.
The Council continued as in past years to take a very active
interest in work on behalf of old people during 1953.
The services available to men over 65 and women over 60 years
included:
(1) A Laundry Service for the Chronic Sick who were unable,
by reason of ill health, senility, etc., to keep their personal and
domestic laundry in a state of cleanliness required to ensure a healthy
environment.
(2) The Council continued and extended the service designed to
preserve the health of the elderly by allowing those sufficiently strong
to benefit from a stay of two weeks in the country or at the seaside.
Applications were invited by public announcement and through
variously interested clubs and societies and these were made to this
department. Each applicant was required to contribute a small sum
towards the cost, normally ten shillings per week but varied slightly
in some cases. Arrangements were then made for the holiday at one
or other of the holiday homes run by voluntary organisations.
A grant was made to each of the homes to cover the cost including
the railway or coach fare and their necessary travelling expenses, less
that amount which the individual was required to contribute.