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26
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1961
Borough Council's baths was operated on the "fill and empty" system
but a modern filtration and chlorinating plant has now been installed
so that all the public swimming baths in the Borough now operate a
modern process of continuous circulation through a filtration plant
with chlorination of the water. The same process operates in the case
of the London County Council open air swimming bath.
During the year bacteriological samples were taken from the
Borough Council baths and the bacteriological reports were satisfactory.
In the case of the London County Council open air bath,
I am informed that samples were also taken which also were found
to be satisfactory.
In addition to the public swimming baths, there are four private
swimming baths in the Borough, to one of which the public may be
admitted. These all have continuous filtration plants but continuous
chlorination operates in two only. In the two baths remaining,
chlorine is added by hand.
Samples of water taken from these baths during the year all proved
satisfactory on bacteriological examination.
Care of Old People
The general pattern of work for the care of old people was not
greatly altered in 1961. One addition to the facilities, however, was
the appointment by the Borough Council in October of a part-time
woman bathing attendant whose duty it is to visit the homes of frail
old people who require and would like assistance with bathing. By
the end of the year she was visiting 20 homes and giving a service
which has proved to be very successful. Many old people appreciate
the help that can be given and it is expected that the scope of the
service will be extended considerably in the future.
The care and welfare of old people is, of course, a joint venture of
voluntary and statutory organisations. Apart from the professional
services supplied through the District Nursing associations and the
geriatric departments of hospitals, the Wandsworth Old People's
Welfare Council organises visiting of old people, setting up of clubs,
meals-on-wheels and chiropody, while the Wandsworth Old Folks
Trust has inaugurated a scheme for providing holidays for old people.
A very substantial amount of visiting of old people is carried out by
the health visitors in the area and the public health inspectors are
often able to be of assistance.
As a result, undoubtedly, of the efforts of these many agencies, no
old person was found in such a state that compulsory removal to a
Home or hospital was necessary under the powers provided by the
National Assistance Act. Action under this Act, although on occasions
necessary as a last resort, is something which, if at all possible,
we like to avoid and it is through the regular day-to-day routine of