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47
PILOT SURVEY OF ELDERLY PERSONS RESIDENT IN THE
CITY OF WESTMINSTER
In February and March 1968 a survey was undertaken by Dr. G. Kazantzis, Senior Lecturer in
Social and Preventive Medicine at the Middlesex Hospital, and members of the Health Department
staff, of a number of elderly persons resident in Westminster. The original purpose of the survey was
to estimate the incidence and significance of low body temperatures on old people living at home-a
subject of increasing public interest in recent years. Subsequently, the survey was expanded to
include information on the utilisation of services being provided for this section of the community by
the City Council and by voluntary organisations in Westminster, and the extent to which the old
persons' needs were being met. A group of persons aged 65 and over were selected for the study,
but for a variety of reasons this random sample dwindled considerably. It was, therefore, necessary
to bolster this number with a selected sample of old people known to the Health Department.
Dr. Kazantzis later submitted to the Medical Officer of Health a highly comprehensive report
comprising some 22 pages of narrative, 15 pages of statistics, and 13 pages of case notes on individual
patients.
It cannot be pretended that the findings of the survey are entirely valid for the elderly population
as a whole, but it served as a useful pilot investigation from which some interesting impressions have
been gained. For instance, it was found that there was a relationship between low oral temperature
and low bedroom temperature, with significantly more low temperature readings obtained when the
bedroom temperature was below 60°F than when it was above this figure. Further, there was an
apparent need for an increase in the chiropody service. In regard to the meals supplied by the "Meals
on Wheels" service, it was felt that any future investigation should include a detailed study of the
nutritional value of the meals in relation to the needs of those supplied.
It is possible that a further survey of this kind will be undertaken in due course by the Middlesex
Hospital involving some 88,000 persons in their catchment area, all but 8,000 of whom would be
residents of Westminster. This latter survey is intended to serve as a guide to the Middlesex Hospital
of the services that should be provided in their new role as a district hospital.
Arising out of the survey, the Social Services Committee and the Establishment Committee
subsequently approved an increase in the establishment of home helps by 10 full-time employees
(400 hours per week) and the addition of 18 chiropody sessions a week, both to be operative from
April 1970. Opportunity was also taken in the interests of uniformity to transfer to the Health
Department the chiropody service then being provided by the Welfare Department at the various
residential homes for old people situated in Westminster and elsewhere.
VACCINATION AND IMMUNISATION
Vaccination and immunisation are available to all children under school-leaving age, either at
child welfare centres, in schools, or at the surgeries of their family doctors.
In May 1969, the new schedule of immunisation recommended by the Department of Health and
Social Security was introduced ; this new schedule reduces the number of injections to be given for
completion of the primary course of protection against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough.
Oral poliomyelitis vaccine is given at the same time.
In July an occurrence of poliomyelitis in Spain caused an increased demand for protection. The
vaccine was made available to adults as well as children and attendances at welfare centres for this
purpose showed a marked increase for several months.
Sixteen thousand doses of calph lymph for smallpox vaccination were obtained from the Central
Public Health Laboratory and issued to hospitals, general practitioners and welfare centres. Smallpox
vaccination is also available in the medical suite at City Hall for adults residing or working in
Westminster, and 95 adults were vaccinated in 1969 in addition to 27 vaccinated at welfare centres.
Vaccination against measles for children from the age of one year onwards is provided in the
Council's welfare centres and by family doctors; 987 doses were given in 1969.
LISSON GREEN DEVELOPMENT—INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS FOR
GENERAL PRACTITIONER SERVICES
My earlier reports have referred to the City Council's approval of the inclusion of a Health Centre
within the housing scheme to be developed at Lisson Green, N.W.1.