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During the year, the welfare of old people came into
prominence. Ministry of Health Circular 11/50 recognised
the plight of old people living alone in circumstances,
often, of extreme loneliness and isolation from
their fellows. His Worship the Mayor accordingly
called a townspeoples' meeting and, as a result, an Old
People's Welfare Committee was formed which has since
done much good work in providing good-neighbourly
services for many old people. I feel that a tribute should
be paid to those good neighbours, both inside and outside
the Old Peoples' Welfare Committee, who, voluntarily,
undertake the care of old people living near them who
are alone and uncared for. The number of such old
people seems to be increasing and were it not (for the
good offices of well-disposed persons the plight of the
old people concerned would be grim indeed. A case has
occurred where the intelligent action of a milk roundsman
who noticed that the milk on the doorstep of an old
person living alone had not been taken in, led to the
discovery, by the Health Department, to whom he
reported the matter, that the old person was in a state of
extreme collapse and it is certain that her life was saved
by the action that was taken when her plight was
discovered.
The investigation into the Incidence and Causation
of Health among Bexley schoolchildren which is being
undertaken by the Kent Paediatric Society is still proceeding
and is now entering its final stages, although
there is a lot of work still to be done before a Report
can be made.
During the year, the Council approved a scheme for
the rebuilding of the Borough Mortuary to provide
improved facilities including refrigeration for six bodies.
The Borough of Eritli and the Urban District of Cravford
have agreed to use the facilities provided on a basis to
be agreed.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the members of the
Health Committee for their support and encouragement
and the Chief Sanitary Inspector, the Chief Clerk and
all members of the Health Department for their devotion
to duty at all times during the year.
I am,
Your obedient servant,
JOHN LANDOJST,
Medical Officer of Health.
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