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raising of funds. Mr. F. C. Ware, the Secretary, reports that more
funds were raised during 1955 than in any year previously. The most
successful activity was the Christmas Seals campaign; total sales were
over £608 and the net income to the Association £509. The provision
of extra nourishment vouchers to patients continues to be the largest item
of assistance, and the total value of vouchers issued during the year was
£1,202 10s. Od.
It is gratifying to report that the Association now raises more funds
by its own efforts than it receives by grants, and it would appear that
the Association is one of the most active and progressive in the country.
Domestic Help.
In 1948, when the County Council became the Local Health
Authority, there were 32 Domestic Helps attending on 247 cases. In
1955 there were over 100 Domestic Helps and, during that year, 893 cases
were assisted. There does not appear to be any "ceiling" to this branch
of the Health Services, and, as has been quoted before in these notes,
care of the aged at home is an essential part of the preventive services.
The Hon. Major Villiers, a Freeman of the Borough, made available
for the aged persons a number of oil convector stoves, and these were
supplied to domestic help beneficiaries who needed supplementary heating
due to their medical condition. The stoves were greatly appreciated, and
it is by such public-spirited action that comfort is brought to people in
the evening of their lives.
During the winter there were reported in the Press a number of
fatalities due to faulty connections (mostly rubber tubing) to gas
appliances. With the co-operation of the North Thames Gas Board and
the Domestic Helps on the Health Area establishment arrangements were
made for the cases where gas appliances were connected in this manner
to be visited by an inspector of the Board, who made arrangements for
proper connections to be made at no cost or a small charge to the person
concerned.
The Borough of Leyton Welfare Services Committee have reorganised
the Meals on Wheels service, and approximately 70 persons
are receiving meals twice weekly. The meals are cooked at the School
Canteens and transported to the homes of the recipients, who are charged
9d., and the Borough of Leyton Welfare Services Committee subsidise
each meal at a cost of Is. As all the applicants are beneficiaries of the
Domestic Help service, a certain amount of the administration of the
Meals on Wheels service is carried out in the Domestic Help Office.
Problem Families.
In 1950 a joint Circular issued from the Home Office, Ministry of
Education and the Ministry of Health suggested that effective use should
be made of available resources, statutory and voluntary, to see what could
be done to help children neglected or ill-treated in their own homes.
To put this into practical effect an informal invitation was issued
to the Children's Officer, the Education Officer, the Welfare Officer, the
Probation Officer, the National Assistance Board, the local branch of the
N.S.P.C.C., local Child Guidance Clinic personnel, the Housing Officer
and the Superintendent Health Visitor and, after many delays and disappointments
in arranging it, the first meeting was held in March, 1955,
under the chairmanship of the Medical Officer of Health.