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6
respiratory tuberculosis were notified during 1963.
I would, however, again stress the value of protection against poliomyelitis
and urge those eligible to take advantage of this service-
2,025 specimens were sent for bacteriological examination to the laboratory
at County Hall and I wish to thank Dr. Tomlinson and his staff for
their invaluable help.
19 notices were served under the Food Hygiene Regulations and subsequent
visits by the Inspectors showed that necessary works to comply
with the regulations had either been completed or were in course of completion.
126 samples were taken during the year under the Food and Drugs Act
and details of these samples and the results of the examinations carried
out will be found in the statistical part of this report.
On the 7th October, 1963, a work centre for the elderly was opened
by the Council. An organiser had been appointed three weeks earlier who
had recruited eleven elderly people prepared to commence worko On the
day the centre opened only three firms were willing to supply outwork.
By the 31st December9 1963, the number of workers had gradually
increased to twenty-nine, and ten firms were supplying enough outwork to
keep the employees occupied.
Two sessions of two hours are held Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to
12 noon and from 2 to 4 p.m., each employee attending one session per day,
i.e. 10 hours per week at the rate of l/6d per hour.
The main purpose of the centre is to provide companionship and reduce
loneliness. This aim has been achieved and the elderly persons,
whose ages range from 60-84 years, carry out their work in a happy and
congenial atmosphere.
Under the National Assistance Act, 1948 (Amendment) Acts 1962,
local authorities were empowered to provide meals to the elderly housebound.
On 1st April, 1963, this Council took over this service which had
been previously administered by the Old People's Welfare Committee and
the W.V.S. For the six months until the end of September ordinary
meals were provided on two days of the week - Tuesday and Thursday and
Kosher meals on Monday and Wednesday.
During this six months preparations went ahead for extending these
services to five days a week for ordinary meals and to four days a week
for Kosher meals. The Council purchased a specially equipped meals
vehicle for carrying meals in containers which could be kept hot throughout
the journey from the kitchen to the recipients. Two part-time lady