London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1952
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington Borough]
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| Name and Age | Reasons for Council's Action | Period Named in Court Order | Type of accommbdation to which removed | Ultimate Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5) |
| Mrs. K. (74 years) | This aged person had a habit of collecting all kinds of articles, and when she went away two cartloads of rubbish were removed from her two rooms, including 27 frying pans congealed with grease. Mrs. K. had a bad heart and was physically incapable of looking after herself. She was not properly nourished and was clothed in rags. Voluntary admission to a Welfare Home was refused. There were no known relatives. | Not exceeding six weeks | After undergoing hospital treatment as a voluntary patient, Mrs. K. was successfully re-habilitated in her own home after assistance from the Cleansing Dept. in the removal of rubbish and the provision of a bed by the N.A.B. This rehabilitation was co-ordinated by the Council's Health Officer for old people. |
Some degree of the work entailed may be estimated from the following figures:—
| Sanitary Inspectors— | |
|---|---|
| 286 cases investigated. | |
| 397 repeat visits made. | |
| Old Peoples Health Officer— | |
| (Period 13th October—31st December, 1952) | |
| New cases visited | 141 |
| Revisits | 249 |
| Cases compulsorily removed under Magistrate's Order | 6 |
| References to other Authorities and Voluntary Associations, re Home Help, National Assistance, Meals on Wheels, etc | 163 |
The Health Officer maintains close touch with the London County Council
Divisional staff, especially in respect of Home-help assistance, with the National
Assistance Board, with the Duly Authorised Officer of the London County Council,
with the Welfare Officer at Hillside, as may be appropriate. She also attends
meeting of voluntary committees connected with the welfare of old persons, old
persons clubs, etc., and is steadily building up a valuable register of old persons
dealt with through the department.
National Assistance Act, 1948, Section 31.
Under this Section of the Act, which permits local authorities to make
contributions to the funds of any voluntary organisation whose activities include
the provision of recreation or meals for old people, the Council in 1950 approved
a grant to the Women's Voluntary Services to enable the W.V.S. to set up a