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73
Tribute to Alderman Mrs. Elizabeth A. Cooper, J.P.
In December we said a very regretful "good-bye" to our
Chairman, Alderman Mrs. Elizabeth A. Cooper, J.P.
Mrs. Cooper has been a member of the Battersea Tuberculosis
Care Committee since 1942 and Chairman of the Committee since
1947. Throughout her many years of service she was meticulous in
attending our meetings, although the claims of her Civic duties and
her many other interests must have made this difficult at times.
She was devoted to the welfare of the people of Battersea and
brought to her work in our Committee a humanity tempered by a
wealth of practical experiences gained in other spheres which will
be remembered with pleasure and gratitude.
Mrs. Cooper did not spare herself in the giving of her time and
now that she and her husband have retired to Wales, we wish them
both a long, happy and peaceful retirement.
(Miss) N. F. CLARK-LAWRENCE,
Chairman.
Care of Old People
The effective care of the aged depends largely on the close
liaison and co-ordination of effort of the statutory bodies and
voluntary organizations engaged in this essential work. I am glad
to say that in Wandsworth there is full co-operation from all
concerned with the welfare of old people. In addition to the ties
between the Health and Welfare Departments and the Women's
Royal Voluntary Service, close contact is maintained with the local
hospital geriatric services, which have been most helpful when
old people have needed urgent admission to hospital. Many of
these have been seriously ill but have recovered sufficiently to be
able to go home with the support of the appropriate personal
health and welfare services. Valuable help is given by geriatric
departments of hospitals which take old people as in-patients for
short periods to relieve the strain on the families looking after
them.
Requests for visits to old people are received from many sources
and it is often the health visitor who makes the first visit to see
what is needed. She may then arrange for a service or call in the
Welfare Department or a voluntary agency. If the old person is
very frail and likely to need medical care the health visitor will
continue to visit. During the year 1,500 first visits were paid by
health visitors to persons aged 65 years or more, 225 of these visits
being paid at the request of a general practitioner or hospital.
Under Section 47 of the National Assistance Act. 1948,
amended by the National Assistance (Amendment) Act, 1951, the
Medical Officer of Health is empowered to apply for an Order
for the compulsory removal to hospital of persons who are