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TREATMENT AND BATHING CENTRE
(Superintendent - Mr. T. Lloyd, T. D. )
The incontinent laundry service, commenced in 1957, has now built
up to become one of the main occupations of the Centre. A total weight
of 45,741 lbs. of incontinent items of bedding and clothing from the
Southwark and Lambeth areas, was laundered during the past year. The demand
for this service has increased to such extent that the limit with
which the present machinery can cope has, on some days each week, now
been reached.
The laundry from the Southwark area is collected from the homes by
our own transport and delivered on the next day, ready for immediate use
This service has now become a major amenity to mainly old people living
alone, or with an ageing partner, who have had incontinence added to
their worries of failing health.
In regard to individuals requiring treatment for scabies, or for a
verminous condition, the numbers have again decreased except in the case
of adult male persons. There was, in fact, a quite considerable increase
in the numbers of adult males dealt with during the year. Of the 657
treatments of these individuals for active or suspected body vermin infestations,
411, gave the addresses of various lodging houses and hostels
in this area as their place of residence. A total of 179 other men were
listed as "casuals", i.e. they claimed that they had no fixed place of
abode or were passing through the district, a number of male callers
openly gave an address within other London Boroughs. These were referred
to the Local Authorities of those areas, all of whom maintain their own
centres for the cleansing of verminous persons.
A considerable amount of domestic pest control work was carried out
during the year. This work was mainly connected with infestations of bed
bugs and fleas, but also included were infestations of various species
of flies and beetles in adult and immature forms. Some public buildings had
repeated and heavy infestations of flies and considerable efforts were necessary
to reduce these nuisances.
A number of business and trading concerns requested the Council's
assistance in eradicating insect infestations within their premises The
infestations dealt with included cockroaches, carpet beetles, fleas,
biscuit beetles and wood lice.
Because of staff difficulties, it has not been found possible to
extend the Home Bathing service for aged persons; and new cases can only
be taken on as vacancies occur. There are, however, still limited facilities
available for housebound aged, but not ill, persons of both sexes,
to be collected from their homes in the Council' s transport for an occasional
bath at this Centre.