View report page

83
the National Assistance Act 1948 (Amendment) Act 1962 which gives local authorities
power to make direct arrangements, and following the submission of a comprehensive
review to the Public Health Committee with the object of further co-ordinating and
extending the services as far as possible, the responsibility for the provision of
meals to elderly persons was transferred to the Borough Council from the 1st April,
1963,
As mentioned in previous Reports, the Borough, largely through the Public Health
Department, effects liaison with voluntary organisations as well as other statutory
authorities, assisting old people in one form or another, In the voluntary sphere,
acknowledgments are again due to Miss D E Church, the Honorary Secretary, and the
members of the Islington Old People's Welfare Council and to Mrs, E. MacGregor, M.B. E.,
Centre Organiser of the Women's Voluntary Service and her colleagues.
Visiting of Elderly Persons
The greater part of the organised and systematic visiting of elderly persons is
carried out by members of the Public Health Department, who visit for the purposes of
the Public Health, L.C. C. (General Powers) and National Assistance Acts. The Elderly
Persons Register maintained in the Department comprised, at the end of the year, a
total of 3,046 persons over 65 years of age.
The Department's Visitors called on 621 new cases during the year and re-visits
totalled 4,715. They made 3,608 references during the year to persons or organisations
outside the Department and, in present circumstances, it is most unlikely that this
kind of help could have been given in any other way, in the absence of the Department's
own staff. These references covered requests for provision of meals and home help
services, welfare home or hospital admission. National Assistance or grants and
introductions to clubs, Work Centre, and associations dealing with blind and handicapped
persons, registrations with medical practitioners, and help in contacting relatives,
Gas and Electricity undertakings were notified of defective appliances and
recommendations were made to the London County Council for the provision of fireguards
in an additional 19 cases, 141 cases were also recommended for home nursing equipment
supplied through the County Council.
The Borough Council's grant to the Old People's Welfare Council for the year,
utilised mainly for the provision of meals, holidays, and part-time employment for the
elderly, totalled £8,805.
Public Health (London) Act 1936. Section 122
Cleansing and Laundry Service
Heavy demands continue to be made on the disinfecting and laundry unit at the
Treatment Centre.