London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Havering 1970
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Havering]
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SOCIAL SERVICES
The effect of legislation arising from the Seebohm Report
was felt in the Social Services Section with staff uncertain as to
how they would be affected in the forthcoming changes. Therefore,
during 1970, the pattern of social work showed little change
from that set out in my previous report. The arrangement of the
Social Workers in area teams became firmly established, and the
number of staff involved in social work—19 full-time, 3 part-time,
with 3 trainee social workers and 2 welfare assistants — showed
a decrease of two, due to vacancies arising which had not been
filled by the end of the year.
SERVICES FOR HANDICAPPED PERSONS
I. Physically Handicapped
The names of 249 persons were added to the register of
the physically handicapped during the year compared with 91 in
1970 and 161 in 1969.
Details of those on the register are given in the following table:-
| Handicap | No. of Persons on Register at 31.12.70 | No. of persons whose names were added to the register during year ended 31.12.70 |
|---|---|---|
| Deaf with Speech | 36 | 8 |
| Deaf without Speech | 56 | 2 |
| Hard of Hearing | 33 | 1 |
| General Classes of the Physically Handicapped | 1192 | 238 |
| TOTAL | 1317 | 249 |
The age groups of persons on the register, together with
an analysis of those in the general classes are set out in the
table on the next page. The total number, 1317, shows an increase
of 146 over the previous year, the largest increases being those
registered under Arthritis and Rheumatism (increase of 79) and
organic nervous diseases (increase of 45).
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