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service is frequently the means whereby elderly persons are enabled
to pass their remaining days among their own surroundings when
otherwise they would be hospital patients.
Ancillary to this service is the loan of mackintoshes and a
limited number of sheets and draw sheets are also available for
urgent needs. Both this and the Bathing Service are worked in closest
co-operation with the District Nurses.
There are two laundry centres, one at the Tunnel Avenue Centre
and the other at the White Hart Road Centre. How effective and
valuable this service is proving to be is shown by the following
statistics:—
Tunnel White Hart
Avenue Road
Number of articles laundered 82,690 99,438
Home Cleansing Service
Not infrequently the rooms of elderly people deteriorate into
a muddled dirty state and the task of cleaning up becomes too complex
for the relations or home helps. In such cases, having first
gained the consent of relations or persons concerned, a team consisting
of two bath attendants with transport, supervised by a Public
Health Officer and equipped with the necessary protective clothing
and apparatus, deal with the offending conditions and remove the
accumulated rubbish. After such operations the home help can then
carry out her normal duties.
Cleansing Services Effected
From Plumstead Bathing Centre 37
From Tunnel Avenue Bathing Centre 5
From Lionel Road Bathing Centre 2
Chiropody Services
Weekly chiropody sessions, under the control of the Council's
Chief Chiropodist, are held at Tunnel Avenue Bathing Centre for
patients who, unable to walk, need the Centre's services and are
conveyed there by minibus.
In addition, a domiciliary chiropody scheme for Borough
residents is operated by the Greenwich Council of Social Service and
full consultation with the department's geriatric branch ensures the
treatment of priority cases.
Tunnel Avenue—Sessions: 52; Persons Treated: 335.
Council of Social Service—Treatments: 1,862.
Mobile Meals
There has been a continued growth in the demand for mobile
meals for necessitous old people. To meet this need, 3 new minibuses
were purchased which increased the number of meals vehicles to 15,
each vehicle being capable of delivering some 36 lunches. The total