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of Paddington Hospital continues and is greatly appreciated both by the patients and the staff. The general public
too are becoming more "old people conscious" and practical gifts such as mattresses, clothing, wheelchairs, commodes,
books, etc., have arrived at the office. These are all most acceptable and are put to immediate use.
Coronation.—During this Coronation Year many functions were arranged for old folk. The Coronation route tour,
organised by the Committee, was a great success—four coaches being filled. The two Coronation seats allocated to
the Committee were won by two old ladies who witnessed the procession with great delight.
Alexandra Rose Day.—A depot was organised and as a result the sum of £25 has been received from the Alexandra
Rose Day funds.
Harvest Gift Celebrations.—The Head Mistress of Droop Street Infant School asked us to help with the distribution
of her pupils' gifts to the old people. Forty-five old folk were invited to attend and each received a parcel of groceries
and fruit. In addition, sixty parcels were delivered to the bedridden and patients in the Chronic Ward in Paddington
Hospital.
Homes.—Thirty old people have been helped to enter private or the London County Council Homes.
Christmas Period.—Two parties were taken to pantomimes on ice and one to the circus. The Rotary Club again
gave a most successful party at the Porchester Theatre for 250 old folk. Thanks to the wheelchairs and a car service
provided by the Rotarians many crippled folk were able to attend the party.
Food Parcels.—Shortly before Christmas His Worship the Mayor asked the Committee to distribute 1,000 food
parcels he had received from America. Seven hundred old people were invited to attend at the Town Hall on December
22nd. A further one hundred parcels were delivered to the housebound and the balance was distributed on January
5th.
Frozen Christmas Dinners.—Through the generosity of His Worship the Mayor, the Rotary Club and two anonymous
donors it was again possible for the Committee to deliver fifty frozen dinners on Christmas Eve.
Chiropody.—This service is a real blessing to old folk, and there is an ever increasing demand for appointments.
In December the service was increased to two sessions a week, and in addition the Chiropodist now devotes one session
a month to visiting patients in their homes.
Holidays.—During the year thirty-five old people were sent for recuperative and private holidays at various
seaside resorts.
Mention should be made of the invaluable help given by the National Assistance Board and particularly the
Salvation Army. One of the difficulties with Old People's Welfare is that the giving of advice is not always the end of
the story. Any sort of work may have to be done for them as they are often incapable of doing it themselves and the
need is usually immediate.
HEALTH EDUCATION.
The CLEAN FOOD CAMPAIGN in the Borough has continued to be based on the personal approach to those
concerned, and very good results have been obtained by the co-operation of the food handlers. This personal approach
is of course not possible with the food consumers who have to be contacted through the medium of posters and
pamphlets. Details of the food premises in the Borough and the inspections made will be found under the " Food"
section.
Voluntary SMALLPOX VACCINATION and DIPHTHERIA IMMUNISATION has been maintained by the
personal approach to the mothers by the London County Council's Health Visitors. The Borough Council co-operate
in the display of posters.
Particulars of the MASS X-RAY UNIT's services were circulated to local medical practitioners, and the bigger
firms in the Borough are encouraged by an appointments system to arrange for their staffs to be examined. Posters
and pamphlets are used to tell the public of the Unit's visits.
VENEREAL DISEASE notices showing the facilities for treatment are exhibited in the public lavatories, and are
also available in leaflet form from the Public Health Department. Special posters are exhibited when requested by the
London County Council.
The CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR HEALTH EDUCATION provide excellent pamphlets on many diseases at
practically cost price for issue to the public. A typical example is the pamphlet on poliomyelitis. This is a particularly
valuable one, because it puts in simple language the precautions which the public should take if there is an epidemic
in the district.