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still remains - where can it be done or who will do it? Some
boroughs have solved the problem by coming to an agreement with
a neighbouring borough which has the appropriate facilities, or
by arrangement with a local hospital laundiy. Neither of these
courses was possible in Lambeth although Southwark is installing
machinery in its cleansing station for this purpose and it may
be possible to come to an arrangement with that authority when
the installation is complete.
A temporary solution was, however, possible through the
generosity of a local laundry proprietor who offered to run a
pilot scheme free of charge for a period of three months. For
administrative reasons it was not possible to do personal and
individual laundry, so the laundry proprietor provided a stock
of draw sheets sheets and pillowcases, sufficient for six cases,
which became the property of the Lambeth Old People's Welfare
Association. Instances of persons needing this service are
referred to the Public Health department generally by the di strict
nurses.
The service was started on 5th December and although at first
confined to the area of one District Nursing Association, six
patients were being catered for and there were two on the
waiting list at the end of the year. It has been a boon to both
the patients and those attending them and has been greatly
appreciated by them
HOLIDAYS FOR TOE ELDERLY.
The scheme to send old age pensioners to the seaside for a
week' s holiday for £1 was continued again during the year under
review To be eligible to participate in the scheme a person
had to be an old age pensioner who had lived in the borough for
at least three years and not to have had a holiday in the same
period. During four weeks in May and early June some 237 old
persons availed themselves of the holiday and in a similar
period in September and early October 219 went away. The 456
persons consisted of 65 married couples, 245 individual females
and 81 males.
The holidays were arranged at Brighton, and the old folk were
taken by coach from the Town Hall to the hotels at Brighton
where the accommodation had been reserved for them. A stop was
made at Crawley for light refreshments. At the end of their
week's stay they were collected from the hotels and brought back
to the Town Hall where the next party was already assembling.
During the week cinema and theatre shows and afternoon
coach trips were arranged. The old people were very grateful