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12
Day Nursery.
A Day Nursery is established within the district at Diban Avenue,
Elm Park. It provides accommodation for 50 children up to five years
of age.
Domestic Help Service.
A domestic help scheme is in operation and is administered for
the Essex County Health Services by the Area Medical Officer, 34,
Cresthill Avenue, Grays.
Care of the Aged.
It has been a relatively quiet year in that no major difficulties have
arisen in dealing with aged persons, who, whilst not falling within a
category requiring care and attention, are nevertheless not wholly able
to look after themselves as well as one would wish.
Looking back on previous years it is noteworthy that although the
aged evince a sturdy suspicion very often towards Institutions and
anything that smacks of them, the fact remains that in instances in which
they have been persuaded to accept for example, Part III accommodation,
time has shown that they have in fact settled down very well to
their new scheme of life, so far as one can see, without any regrets.
It should also be said that the Social Welfare Department of the
County Council through their Area Officer, Mr. Fisher, has always
proved most helpful in assisting us to sort out any difficulties involving
that department and mine.
It is reassuring to know that at any time a sympathetic response
from the Social Welfare Department can be relied upon.
Home Safety.
I continue to represent the Local Home Safety Committee on the
National Home Safety Committee.
I cannot see any real evidence that the problem of Home Safety is
being treated nearly as approaching the importance of Road Safety,
and although I must pay a tribute to the interest and knowledge with
which the National Home Safety Committee deal with the subject, I
still think that much more encouragement could be given centrally to
bring the day-to-day problem of Home Safety measures before all local
Councils (not merely Local Health Authorities) and appropriate interested
—or disinterested—bodies in the country as a matter upon which some
action must be taken.
National Assistance Act, 1948.
No formal action was taken under Section 47 of this Act during
the year.
As each annual report seems to repeat this phrase, it might well
be emphasised now and again that effective action so far has been
proved possible short of legally invoking this Section. Every so often
instances crop up when the circumstances seem very likely to necessitate
having recourse to the Act but time and patience have so far achieved
the desired end.