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

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Greenwich 1971

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

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176
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 Centre8
From Tunnel Avenue Bathing Centre11
From Lionel Road Bathing Centre5

Chiropody Services
Owing to a shortage of chiropodists the weekly chiropody
sessions, under the control of the Council's Chief Chiropodist, and
previously held at Tunnel Avenue Bathing Centre for patients who
were unable to walk and needed the Centre's services and were
conveyed there by minibus, have had to be discontinued.
However, a domiciliary chiropody scheme for Borough residents
which is operated by the Greenwich Council for Social
Service has managed to absorb most of the cases unable to obtain
treatment at Tunnel Avenue. Full consultation with the department's
geriatric branch ensures the treatment of priority cases.
Council of Social Service—Treatments: 2,997
Persons: 712
Geriatric Advisory Clinics
Due to reorganisation problems arising from the implementation
of the Social Services Act, geriatric advisory clinics were suspended
during the current year.
Geriatric Adviser to the Council
In his Circular 10/65, the Minister of Health pointed out that
although the various Health and Welfare Services for the elderly are
not under one authority, their purpose is to provide what is essentially
a single service for each individual who needs it.
There are indications that, despite every effort made to the
contrary, much undiagnosed illness and undisclosed disability in
the elderly exists.
It was clear that early recognition of changes in the physical or
mental condition of our old folk in the Council's homes would be
most satisfactorily achieved by a doctor responsible both to the
hospital and to the local authority. This desire for a closer association
between the Health and Welfare department and the hospitals'