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78
A further method of help for certain frail and usually bedridden
old people was started in December 1962 with the employment of a
woman to help with domiciliary bathing and cleansing, to work primarily
under the direction and supervision of the Ranyard Nurses. The
demands for such help are great, and it has since been necessary to
employ two more women and a male bathing attendant in order to
cope with the increase.
The first of a series of Concerts run by the Public Health Committee
at the Town Hall for the elderly was held in March 1963, and was
attended by some 900 old people from the clubs. This experimental
concert was regarded as highly successful, and it was therefore decided
that in the future tickets would also be made available to old people in
the borough other than members of old people's clubs. Monthly concerts
have since been held during the winter season.
Apart from LOPWA the Council makes grants to organisations
in the borough which carry out work for old people, whether by recreational
facilities or by the provision of meals. For instance a sum
of £18,800 for 1963/64 (to include LOPWA) was allocated for such
organisations as accepted the Council's condition and to assist any such
organisations as might be established during that year.
It is not easy to give a definite indication of the cost to the Borough
Council of work for old people as some of the cost is by its very nature
hidden in various estimates. For example there has often been a hidden
subsidy to LOPWA in the rent charged to them for their office accommodation.
Bearing in mind, these provisions, however, it seems that
in the financial year 1964/65 the sum of about £53,500 was spent by the
Borough Council on the care of the elderly. To understand the growth
of this service it is only necessary to mention that in the year 1952/53,
the corresponding expenditure was £1,750.
Home safety
Towards the end of 1959 it was decided by the Public Health Committee
to publish a quarterly "Home Safety Bulletin" which would have
as wide a distribution as possible among local clubs of various kinds,
general practitioners, dentists and other organisations that would agree
to distribute it among its members and friends. The bulletin was first
published in 1960, and some 500 copies were distributed. By 1964
the number distributed had grown to around 3,500 and it has in fact
achieved no small measure of success. The bulletin's contents vary
from issue to issue to some extent according to the season of the year,
but it attempts to inculcate some care in the home and so cut down the
appalling number of accidents that occur through ignorance, neglect
or sheer carelessness.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
The Medical Officer of Health's annual report for 1901 gives a good
indication of the sanitary conditions observed by the six inspectors of
nuisances at that time.
The samples of water from seven wells were analysed. Five wells
were found to be polluted, and were immediately closed.