View report page

* Numbers include additional beds which can be used if the "maternity or other" beds are not used
for maternity patients.
Forty exemptions from the operation of Part XI of the Public Health (London)
Act, 1936, were granted.
Regular visits of inspection were made to the nursing homes. The general
standard was reasonably maintained.
There are indications of a lessened use of some nursing homes since 5th July,
1948, for maternity and surgical cases. On the other hand there is an increasing
demand for accommodation for the near-patient type of senile persons of both
sexes, particularly males.
Welfare Committee Establishments
Arrangements were made for the medical supervision of all types of establishments
under the control of the Welfare Committee, i.e. large homes, mother and
baby homes, rest centres, reception centres for persons without a settled way of living,
lodging houses, small homes for the aged and infirm, homes for the blind and hostels
for persons in employment.
Each of the homes is attended by a visiting medical officer whose duties include
the examination of newly admitted residents and attendance in case of illness on any
resident or member of the staff who is on his National Health Service list (and others
in emergency). Periodic visits are also made to homes and rest centres by medical
officers and by inspectors on the central office staff to supervise medical and sanitary
arrangements and hygiene, and to investigate and advise on the control of infection
and other social problems. Other establishments are visited for these purposes as
necessary. Many residents of the homes are, owing to age and infirmity, particularly
susceptible to acute illness, especially in winter and during epidemics of respiratory
infections. Arrangements for suitable accommodation for such acutely sick persons
and for medical and nursing attention for those who cannot be removed to hospital
are under continuous review.
Many problems arose in connection with the eight Homeless Families Units,
attached to large welfare homes. Difficulty was experienced at times in the control of
infectious disease, due to unavoidable overcrowding caused by pressure on the available
accommodation, and also, during the winter months, due to the shortage of hospital
beds. Advice was given to the Welfare Department on quarantine measures and on
the installation of essential equipment, such as milk preparation rooms, sluices, etc.