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29
The collection of home accident statistics is to some extent a longterm
process and it is only by obtaining the knowledge and studying it
and analysing it that one has a chance of showing different groups of
accidents which may be more preventable than other groups, or certain
localities which appear to be more accident-prone than others. It would
of course be on those that any work of the department would be particularly
brought to bear. In my last report I gave details of the figures
for Lewisham cases reported from the Sydenham Children's Hospital.
For some administrative reason which is a little difficult to appreciate
the supply of this helpful information has ceased. The special statistics
which the LCC collected from the hospitals of London have not
yet been analysed and issued, but some general statistics, based on
ambulance removals, are shown as follows:

It will be seen that there are no separate figures for Lewisham,
but based on the first four lines the approximate numbers for Lewisham,
(below the horizontal line in the table) would be about one-sixteenth
of those shown. It must be emphasised that these are only
accidents sufficiently serious to require removal to hospital by ambulance.
Old people
General comments on the problems connected with the care of old
people are made in the introduction of this report. The Council continued
to make grants to organisations in the borough which are carrying out
work for old people, whether by recreational facilities or by the provision
of meals. A sum of £7,380 was eventually included in the annual
estimates for the year 1960-61 for such organisations as accepted the
Council's conditions and to assist any other such organisations as might
be established during that year. Reports were made to the Public
Health committee giving details of the work undertaken by the voluntary
organisations and as a result grants were made as follows:—