London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Southwark 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southwark, Borough of]
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club, and so a more urgent case be accepted in his place. The
average daily numbers have increased dramatically, far outstripping
the increase in meals for the active, and average 250
per day. Our helpers continue their invaluable work of reporting
on their old people; an elderly man living alone who does not
answer the door, the milk bottles accumulating; entrance is made
and he is found to be needing urgent medical attention; another
is full of the woes of an old lady whose home help no longer
comes and she cannot manage to get out for her shopping; many
messages are brought back,helping the organisation to keep track
of the needs of the homebound, for some of whom the helpers come
as welcome visitors against the drab monotony of a solitary life.
Luncheon Clubs our five luncheon clubs have shown progressive
increase in numbers and have considerably helped to
reduce pressure on the Meals-on-Wheels service. So many old
people find St. Alban's Hall just that much too far to reach for
their dinner, especially those in the northern part of the
borough and on the other side of the Walworth Road,and the clubs
at Quinn Square, Nelson Square, Merrow Street and Surrey Square
fit their purpose, whilst the old people at Edwards Almshouses
are happy to have their dinners on the spot. For those who can
get to a luncheon club the daily trip away from the small confined
space of their flats is good for morale. They have the
satisfaction of meeting friends and of feeling that they have
been able to get there without help, which is an achievement.
The following table shows the comparative figures of meals served during the past three years:
| Restaurant | Meals-on-Wheels | Luncheon Clubs | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962/63 | 44,336 | 56,393 | 6,572 | 107,301 |
| 1963/64 | 42,661 | 53,905 | 16,853 | 113,419 |
| 1964/65 | 42,475 | 55,314 | 20,308 | 118,097 |
CHIROPODY
The demand for treatment becomes greater every year and the
number of sessions has become totally inadequate. It remains at
six per week at the clinic at St: Alban's Hall, with one domiciliary
session weekly. As more handicapped are brought in on
Fridays there are more old people asking for treatment on that
day, and it is a desperate task to try to fit in urgent cases,
and to reduce the time lapse of six to eight weeks between treatments.
This service has become one of the most important offered
to pensioners who are unable to afford private treatment and who
nave to rely on our clinic to meet their needs.
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