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128
their babies is expected to be in operation by the end of 1968.
Naturally, success in implementing the plan fully is dependent
upon the availability of sufficient resources. At the moment, future
finances seem very uncertain and the plan will need to be regularly
reviewed and adjusted accordingly.
During the year under review, few changes took place in the
Borough's welfare services. Planning of new Old People's Homes in
the Gavestone and Glyndon Developments continued but real
progress was delayed by national economic factors. Loan sanction
for both projects is promised for 1967/68 and it is anticipated that
the building of these Homes will commence in the second half of
1967.
Homes for Old People
There are four modern purpose-built Old People's Homes
situated in the Borough, namely:—
Perrygrove, Rectory Field Crescent, S.E.7.
Plumstead Lodge, Plumstead Common Road, S.E.I8.
Sunbury Lodge, Sunbury Street, S.E.I8.
Weybourne, 1 Finchale Road, S.E.2.
In addition, as a temporary expedient until sufficient accommodation
is made available locally, some 259 beds in Southern Grove
Lodge, Mile End Road, E.l, form part of this Council's Part III
facilities.
The standard of physical fitness of the old people admitted to
the Council's Homes continues to decline, a natural and anticipated
result of our policy. We consider that it is generally of greater social
benefit that every effort be made to maintain people in their own
homes and normal surroundings and to admit to a Home only in the
last resort. In fact, because of the shortage of beds within the Borough,
it is only in almost crisis conditions when every form of domiciliary
help is being given but is found to be insufficient, that admission to a
Home can be contemplated. In these circumstances it is not surprising
that more and more of the residents in the Homes require a
degree of care and attention previously unknown both to the staff
and the former administration.
Anxious as we are to see the end of the large institutional
Homes such as Southern Grove Lodge, it cannot be discounted that
a great many people with severe and varied infirmities were
cared for within their wards and existing trends would seem to
indicate that the burden of this care will continue to fall on the
Welfare Services.
Special units catering for several needs such as mild psychiatric
and physically handicapped cases are planned for the new Homes,
but it will also be necessary to examine both the physical and staffing
structure of all our Homes to seek ways to ease the burden of this
additional care which must fall on the various staffs.