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housing of old people in the district. Considerable interest was
aroused in January of this year by an account given by Miss Ellis,
of the Lewisham Old People's Housing Association, of a highly
successful House Conversion experiment, carried out in Penge.
where two houses have been adapted into self-contained, unfurnished.
single-room flatlets for Elderly People.
An Appeals Sub-Committee was immediately set up. and in
March a letter was sent to the North West Kent Housing Society
Limited, offering to make a donation of £1.000 0s. Od. if the Society
would acquire, convert and run a house in Sidcup where elderly
people could live in a single-room flatlet, furnished with their own
possessions, and with the knowledge that there was a House Mother
in the premises. The North West Kent Housing Society Limited
has agreed to adopt this scheme, and is taking active steps to
acquire No. 49. Station Road. Sidcup, for this purpose and to
negotiate with the Local Authority for a loan.
The Committee has now raised rather more than £500 0s. Od.
The balance of £500 0s. Od. has to be raised by July 1st."
HOSPITAL SERVICES.
There are three hospitals in Chislehurst and Sidcup : Queen
Mary's Hospital with 350 staffed beds (possible 510) ; Cray Valley
Hospital with 35 beds; Sidcup Cottage Hospital with 13 beds,
giving a total of 398 beds staffed and available for use. These
hospitals form part of the Sidcup and Swanley Hospital Group of
the South East London Region.
There are ten maternity beds in the Cray Valley Hospital.
In addition to these hospitals, six blocks of Grove Park
Hospital come within the area of the Urban District. The 296 beds
in this section of the hospital are reserved for the use of patients
suffering from tuberculosis. This hospital comes within the
Lewisham Group of the South East London Region.
Venereal Diseases.
Patients are referred to the various hospitals with Clinics for
dealing with these diseases.
COUNTY COUNCIL SERVICES.
Home Nursing Service.
There are nine Home Nurses employed in the area. Home
Nursing is provided on medical certification only and is free.
There is no night service at the present time.
Health Visiting.
Ten Health Visitors, two School Nurses and two Tuberculosis
Health Visitors are employed on work within the Urban District.