View report page

† Each bed is registered for a maternity, medical or surgical case.
* Numbers include beds for medical and surgical patients which cannot be used if a maternity patient is accommodated
in the same room.
Welfare Committee establishments
Medical supervision of establishments of all types under the control of the Welfare
Committee was continued. In the large homes, in spite of the exchange arrangements
for the admission to hospital of chronic sick persons and the reception from hospital of
infirm patients ready for discharge, the number of chronic sick residents has not been
reduced. There is a reluctance in geriatric units to give beds to patients whose general
health cannot improve with medical treatment, although these patients are properly
the responsibility of the hospital service. The presence, in large numbers, of persons
wholly confined to bed and requiring constant nursing care creates problems in
residential homes staffed mainly by care and attention staff. An increasing number of
trained nurses is being appointed to the large homes to act in a supervisory capacity in
the nursing care and in the distribution and control of drugs needed to alleviate the
condition of the chronic sick.
Invalid meals for London
The Council makes a grant-in-aid to Invalid Meals for London, a voluntary body
providing meals for invalids and sick persons. Meals are supplied, on the production of
a medical certificate, to sick persons including the aged, expectant and nursing mothers,
persons discharged from or awaiting admission to hospital, cripples and invalids, e.g.,
diabetics, requiring special diets. Meals are delivered by motor van to the homes of
patients unable to attend the dining rooms attached to five centres.
1956 1957 1958
£ £ £
Grant-in-aid 11,500 11,500 17,500
Meals served 187,578 174,011 167,134