London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Barking 1961

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

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PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE
Chiropody Service
This remains a popular service and during the year 12,061 attendances were
made. Chiropodists practise at Central, Woodward, Porters Avenue, Greatfields
and Thames View Clinics. In addition 734 treatments were given at patients'
homes.
Sick Room Equipment
This service continues to expand and has been much appreciated by both
patients and the nurses who attend them. At the end of the year 1,014 articles of
equipment were out on loan. In a number of cases the provision of such equipment
delayed or obviated the need for admission to hospital, thus helping to reduce the
demand on hospital beds.
With the co-operation of the County Medical Officer, hydraulic hoists have
now been supplied through the County Welfare Department to a number of severely
handicapped people. These appliances are much appreciated and do much to lighten
the burden of those who care for these unfortunate people in their homes.
Domiciliary Occupational Therapy-Tuberculous Patients
Miss Z. Mercer, the Occupational Therapist, reports that she visited eight
people in Barking during the year. Two of these patients entered work for competition
in the recent Dagenham Town Show and each gained Third Prize in their
respective classes for Weaving and Basketry.
Handicrafts \ undertaken are Leatherwork, Basketry, Weaving, Rug-making,
Embroidery and Block-printing.
DOMESTIC HELP SERVICE

The followingtableshows the number of hours of service given during the Past tenyears, togetherwith a detailed analysis of how the hours of service were

deployed in 1961:-

YearNumber of Helps employedNumber of Cases helpedTotal Hours worked
19528431885,743
195389384105,121
195489503101,960
195590556105,104
195693596104,863
19579358197,536
195897550103,787
195996625114,227
1960110672122,026
1961120792123,092

The maintenance of a sufficient and suitable panel of domestic helps to meet
demands presents some difficulty because the service has to compete with the at
tractive conditions offered by a wide range of industries etc.,
employ large numbers of women.
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