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16
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 designed
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 1954.
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.
Arrangements were made with the co-operation of the Red Cross
Society and Women's Voluntary Service for those aged persons who
so desired, to save, through the medium of Savings Stamps, the
amount or part of the amount they would be required to contribute
towards the cost of the holiday. Stamps were on sale at the Health
Centre, Red Cross and W.V.S. Centres, and in all a considerable sum
was saved by aged persons.