London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hendon 1958

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hendon]

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are at all times ready to give their help and cooperation in assisting the activities of the
Committee.
CLUBS
The weekly clubs run by the Constituent Organisations have continued their useful work in
bringing elderly people together and providing recreation and social intercourse. Unfortunately,
year by year, certain members cease to attend simply because through age or infirmity they can no
longer use public transport. This is a problem which will have to be tackled. Certain tentative
suggestions which might lead to a solution have already been made.
The Over 60's Club which meets on weekday afternoons at Station Road now has a membership
of 200 with an average weekly attendance of about 150. This number also came to the New
Year party at Hodford Hall. The Club Constitution has been revised and the House Committee
meets monthly. In spite of not unexpected teething troubles this hag been most beneficial and the
Club is now a much more live institution.
An exhibition of handcrafts was held shortly before Christmas, a choir has been started, and
the Club Committee now run a monthly whist drive. Since her appointment last August as Assistant
to the Organising Secretary, Mrs. Wheals has been in charge of the Club and this has been a
most satisfactory arrangement.
Our thanks and those of all the Club members are due to Duty Officers and to members of
Constituent Organisations for all the help and service which they have given during the past year.
CHIROPODY0
For the twelve months ending March 31st last, the grant from the National Corporation for
the Care of Old People was increased to £170, During this period 185 patients received 772 treatments
in private surgeries, at the Red Cross Clinic and in their homes. Approximately half of all
these patients are housebound. Our thanks are due to Mrs. McCabe who travels many miles to all
parts of the Borough to attend to their needs. In March, at. the suggestion of Dr. Patton, the
Borough Medical Officer of Health, the chiropodists operating the scheme were invited to a meeting
at Station Road.(A report on this meeting is attached).The period of the three year grant from
the National Corporation for the Care of Old People ended on March 31st this year, and application
for a suitable grant has now been made to the Middlesex County Council. Meanwhile, we are continuing
to operate the scheme without alteration.
VISITING
The problem of discovering those old people who need visting because they are lonely lends
itself to no easy solution. The greater number of requests for a visit received in t0he office are in
connection with some specific problem or difficulty. In nearly all such cases the first visit is made
from Station Road. Advice is given and, when necessary, the required action is taken. Even when
little or nothing can be done to help — as with housing problems — the mere fact of a prompt
response to the request seems to have a good effect. Requests for regular visits are sent to lady
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