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During the year a Tuberculosis Care Committee for
Crayford was brought into being for the purpose of assisting
patients and their dependents. Previously Crayford had been
served by the Erith and Dartford Committees. In view of
the continued growth of the District it was felt that a Committee
to deal with Crayford patients was needed. The scheme
which has been well supported, has made good progress.
The care of old people living alone is becoming more
and more a responsibility of the Health Department. Under
Section 47 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, as amended
by the National Assistance (Admendment) Act, 1951, it is the
responsibility of the local authority to take appropriate action
in the cases of persons "who are suffering from grave chronic
disease or being aged and infirm or physically handicapped
are living in insanitary conditions and are unable to devote
to themselves, and are not receiving from other persons, proper
care and attention." The effects of the ageing of the population
are now being felt in the increase of such cases. Old
people are often discovered to be living in conditions grotesque
from the point of loneliness and the absence of even the lowest
standards of comfort, care and cleanliness. These old
people are nearly always infirm to a greater or lesser extent
and I would like to express my appreciation of the help which
is so readily forthcoming from the Officers of the Woolwich
Group Hospital Management Committee who do their best
under difficult circumstances to find accommodation for these
urgent cases.
The affiliation of the local Good Neighbours Association
to the North West Kent Old People's Welfare Committee,
operating under the North West Kent Council of Social
Service, has now taken place and the experiment is being
tried of appointing district liaison officers somewhat on the
lines of the Tuberculosis After-Care Committee. The work
of the new committee will be, firstly, to ascertain on a Ward
basis the old people needing additional care, to Co-ordinate
the work of all agencies providing for the care of old people
and to afford to the latter a wide range of good neighbourly
services. One of the added functions will be the raising ot
funds from various charitable sources and the assistance of
old people, in suitable cases, by small monetary grants or
their equivalent in food and other requirements needed for
their comfort. Although the State is now responsible tor a
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