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8
Financial Contributions to Voluntary Organisations.
Payments to the funds of voluntary bodies were, on the recommendation of the Public Health
Committee, made by the Council during 1956, as indicated below :—
Organisation Amount Statutory Authority
£ s. d.
Central Council for Health Education 11 11 0 Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
section 298.
Family Welfare Association (Area 2) 100 0 0 Local Government Act, 1948,
section 136.
National Smoke Abatement Society 7 7 0 Public Health (London) Act, 1936,
section 298.
St. Marylebone Old People's Welfare Association—
" Meals on Wheels " Service, Foot Clinic, etc. 675 0 0 National Assistance Act, 1948,
section 31.
Assisted Holidays Scheme 250 0 0 do.
" Inner Wheel " Old People's Club—Rent of
Hall 26 0 0 do.
Women's Voluntary Services 40 0 0 do.
Care of Old People.
The women public health inspectors visited 584 old people during the year. Frequency of the visits
varied according to individual needs and, although sixty-six were married couples, the majority
lived alone and many required constant observation. As will be seen from their Annual Report, the
St. Marylebone Old People's Welfare Association continued their invaluable activities and worked
in close co-operation with the Department. Both the London County Council domestic help service
and the District Nurses also continued to give valuable assistance. A list of services available for old
people in St. Marylebone is on page 41.
Special Laundry Service.—Under the scheme for laundering bed linen and clothing of acutely ill
and incontinent or very dirty and verminous old people, fifty-four cases were dealt with during the
year. Forty-two of these were new and each was the subject of a certificate given by the Medical
Officer of Health under the provisions of section 122 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1936. The
work is done by the Council's staff at the Public Health Department laundry at 217, Lisson Grove,
N.W.8. The service has been in operation since February, 1950, and its value is recognised by all
who are concerned with the nursing of the aged in their own homes. Some of the old people who were
assisted were awaiting admission to hospital but the scheme also helped to make it possible for others
to continue to be cared for at home. Some required the service for short periods only but others needed
assistance for a long time.
Bathing.—Under the provisions of section 43 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act,
1953, sanitary authorities are enabled to make arrangements for bathing old people at their own request
or with their consent, in their own homes if necessary. There has so far been little or no demand for
home bathing but during the year the scheme started in 1954 for bathing old persons at the Lisson
Grove Centre continued with steady progress. The first groups of bathers have spread amongst their
contemporaries news of their satisfaction and given reassuring accounts of " afternoon outings " to
the bathing centre which have helped to dispel any misgivings or prejudices. At present an old person
in need of the service can have a bath once in three weeks and it is hoped to increase the frequency to
once a fortnight. Because of other commitments at the Cleansing Station only two sessions each week
have been practicable and the number of baths given at each session, usually six, depends upon the
condition of the old people. During the cold months of January and February bathing is usually
postponed. To ensure continuity of the scheme throughout the year a trained nurse is employed to
supervise bathing in any absence of the woman Public Health Inspector who is normally in charge.
During the year, 180 women and 101 men used the scheme. Towards the end of the year the Council
purchased a new general purpose vehicle for use by the Public Health Department. It is of the
" autobus " type with well-upholstered seats, sliding windows throughout and rear entrance doors.
Among other duties it serves to convey bathers to and from the centre, a purpose for which it has
proved ideal and, as with the vehicle it replaced, a ramp is provided to assist the infirm to get in
and out.
St. Marylebone Old People's Welfare Association.
The Executive Committee of the Association (Chairman—Mrs. L. Fewster; Hon. Secretary—Miss
M. K. C. Macintosh, Room 103, Town Hall, St. Marylebone, W.l) has kindly provided the following
information, which has been extracted from the Association's Annual Report, on work carried out
during 1956:—