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REPORT OF THE DISTRICT OFFICER
The following report has been submitted by Mr. C. J. Moore,
District Officer, for which I express my thanks.
"During the year 1960 there were two developments in the
work of the County Health and Welfare Services which I think
are of special interest.
Firstly, the County Council's Chiropody Service came into
operation on the 1st September, 1960. At present there are 6
Chiropodists in the district who are actively taking part in the
County scheme, and during the last four months of 1960, 221
different patients were treated under the scheme in this district.
At the moment, the scheme applies only to men over 65
years, women over 60 years, expectant mothers and those suffering
from substantial physical handicap.
So far the service has been able to cope adequately with the
demands upon it and new cases can be treated at the latest within
10 days of application.
The future of the Chiropody service provided by the voluntary
agencies such as the British Red Cross and Women's Voluntary
Service is still a matter for discussion between those bodies concerned
and the Kent County Council. It is to be hoped that it
will be possible for these organisations to carry on with the
valuable work they have done in the past.
Perhaps a more publicised event was the coming into force
on the 1st November of the Mental Health Act, 1959. On that
date the Lunacy and Mental Deficiency Acts ceased to have effect
and were replaced by a single Statute.
Over the span of 70 years the role of the Local Authority
has been reversed. The main duty of the Local Authority under
the Lunacy Act, 1890, was to provide 'Asylums for the Accommodation
of Pauper Lunatics; Under the 1959 Act, although it is
true the Local Authority's Mental Welfare Officers are empowered
to act in connection with compulsory admission to hospital where
there is no relative able or willing to do so, the principal duty
laid on the Local Authority by this Act is to provide Care and
After Care Services for patients in the community and thus prevent
or reduce the need for hospital care which otherwise might prove
necessary."
REPORT OF HOME HELP ORGANISER
My thanks are due to Miss Hocking for the report on this service
for the Beckenham and Penge area.
" During the year I960 demands for this service continued to
increase steadily. Approximately 350 cases per week received
assistance and over 500 new cases were serviced during the year.
Sixteen families, of whom 6 were in the Penge area, received
assistance under the Family Help Service. One family received
assistance under the Child Help Service and there were no
applications for the Night Attendant or Evening Service."
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