View report page

It, however, behoves all those concerned with the prevention
of disease to continue to create and maintain a pressure of interest
in health education which in turn will induce the allocation of television
time to health topics.
Towards the end of the year when the poliomyelitis vaccination
scheme was extended to include all young people up to the age of
26 years, special inaugural vaccination sessions were held at which
young local celebrities were invited to attend. The press as always was
most co-operative in advertising these efforts and as a next step
special efforts were made to reach as many members of youth
organisations as possible.
NATIONAL ASSISTANCE ACT, 1948
Only once was it necessary to invoke Section 47 of this Act to
secure the compulsory removal to hospital of a man of 84 years.
Once in hospital, however, he remained as a voluntary patient.
WELFARE OF THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED
With the approval of the National Trust the Borough Council
leased to the Essex County Council the ground floor of Eastbury
House for use as an Occupation Centre for physically handicapped
people living in Barking, Ilford and Dagenham.
Making the most of the generous proportions of the rooms in
this graceful Tudor Manor House, the County Architect carried out
alterations to meet the special requirements of physically handicapped
people, e.g. provision of ramps, lavatory accommodation to take
wheel chairs, etc. With the installation of the necessary furniture
and equipment including that for a woodwork room, a first-class
Centre was created, which also has the advantage of having spacious
grounds and walled garden at its disposal.
It was fortunate that a dedicated staff was appointed to run the
Centre and from the day it was opened a happy and contented
atmosphere has revailed. All the Barking people who attend the
Centre are weh known to the Health Department and it is very
heartening to hear the cumulative evidence of the benefits derived
from the Centre by these handicapped people.
A passenger carrying vehicle, fitted with an hydraulic hoist for
Wheel-chair case has also been provided for the transportation of
People to and from the centre.
The commencement of the Occupation Centre is the fulfilment
of one of the most cherished wishes of the Council.
Page 9