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50
Meals - on - Wheels
Duringthe year under review 27,590 meals were delivered by the Association
in the Northern part of the Borough: 22,088 to people in their own homes and
5,502 to lunch clubs. The Southern part of the Borough was served by the Women's
Voluntary Service which delivered 24,094 meals, all to people in their own homes.
Taking the Borough as a whole the largest number of people served on any one
day was 305, of which 64 were at lunch clubs. These were at Northcote House
Senior Club: St Anne's Settlement, during the winter months; a small new club
at Christ Church (Oxford) United Clubs; and at the Work Centre until its transfer
to the new building.
Throughout the year the Association's three vans have been working to
almost full capacity. The drivers and escorts, who have been all employed by the
Association for at least one year and some for much longer, continued to give
the old people a helping hand in minor domestic upsets, and informed the office
whenever more serious problems arose. There is no doubt that their devoted
work adds to the value of this important service.
The only change during the year was in January when the price per meal paid
to the Caterers was increased to 2/- to cover rising costs and also to improve
quantity, quality and variety. At the same time the L.C.C. increased its grant
per meal to 1/- and the old people's payment was increased to 1/-. The improvement
in the meals was immediately noticed by the old people many of whom
said that it was well worth the extra 2d.
However, it has been an important year for planning and it is with great
pleasure that the Association can report that from 2nd April deliveries throughout
the Borough were increased from four to five days per week. At the same time the
Association extended its area to Brixton taking over a full round of deliveries
from the W.V.S. which necessitated the purchase of a fourth van.
Chiropody
The six clinics have continued to provide 27 sessions per week and there
have been 7 sessions per week of domiciliary treatment. At least 2,500 people
have benefited from the service, but throughout the year it has been necessary to
keep waiting lists to prevent the waiting time between appointments becoming too
long.
It has been a disappointing year for the Association with respect to this
service. Every effort has been made to get the L.C.C. to permit expansion, but
without success. It appears that although the need for expansion is recognised the
L.C.C. is not satisfied that there are sufficient properly qualified chiropodists
available, and takes the view that with its large trained staff it is in a better
position to supervise and control a chiropody service than are voluntary Associations,
It can, therefore, only be hoped that it will not be too long before the L.C.Cwill
expand its own clinics to cope with the growing demand for treatment from
elderly Lambethans.