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18
County Council, who administer this service, suggested that the
Borough Councils were the appropriate authorities for running
this service, and after discussion between the Boroughs and the
London County Council it was agreed that the Boroughs should
accept the service and prepare a suitable scheme.
Enquiries made from local medical practitioners however
did not reveal a large demand for a service of this nature in
Hampstead, and in view of the proposed extension of the Mealson-Wheels
Service it was felt that the matter should be reviewed
at a later date when an Invalid Meals Service might possibly be
incorporated with the Meals-on-Wheels Service. The transfer
of the Invalid Meals Service from the London County Council to
the Boroughs depends in part on uniform action by all the
Metropolitan Boroughs.
PUBLIC HEALTH LAUNDRY.
The number of persons requiring the assistance of the
Public Health Laundry showed a very slight increase during the
year, and varied between 28 and 32. At 31st December, 1963,
two of the patients had been having the laundry service for more
than four years, three for more than three years, one for more
than two years, and one for more than a year.
The soiled articles are collected, laundered and
delivered twice a week, and the total number of articles dealt
with during the year was 15,799.
DISINFECTION AND DISINFESTATION.
During the year 116 rooms were disinfected after
infectious disease in 78 premises and a total of 4,138 articles
were passed through the steam chamber. This figure includes
a regular weekly collection from one hospital of approximately
75 blankets.
It is still necessary for used clothing to be disinfected
prior to dispatch abroad, and 84 parcels belonging to private
individuals were disinfected to comply with the regulations in
the receiving countries.
A total of 148 rooms in 61 premises were treated for
various types of infestation during 1963. In addition to the
ordinary disinfection or disinfestation of premises, 29 filthy
or verminous rooms were cleared after vacation by their
occupants.