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problems, and the provision of special appliances and aids as necessary.
A Craft Instructor is available to visit handicapped persons in
their homes.
Health Visiting.
Ten Health Visitors/School Nurses, one full-time School Nurse
and one Tuberculosis Health Visitor are employed in the Urban
District. In addition to their school work, Health Visitors are responsible
for the Maternity and Child Welfare Clinics, Home Visiting,
Mental Health Visiting, Immunisation and Vaccination, etc.
SERVICES RENDERED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
The St. John Ambulance Brigade.
Over 60's Clubs.
These agencies continue to carry out their good work in the area.
Women's Voluntary Service.
The County Organiser has kindly furnished the following information:—
Meals on Wheels. During the severe winter at the beginning of 1963,
the Meals-on-Wheels service had to be carried out as an emergency
operation. During the worst of the period W.V.S. members cooked
meals in their own homes and delivered them to recipients in their own
area, but it was not long before the service was running as usual.
8,158 meals were served to 88 old people during the year. A free
Christmas dinner was served to all recipients, with additional presents
of fruit, sweets and tea and a table decoration for every household,
made by one W.V.S. member. No application for meals has ever
been refused.
Darby and Joan Clubs. These did not meet during the most severe
weather. The Farnborough Club, unfortunately, lost eight members
during the year—one in a fatal accident, but the numbers are increasing
again and now average 55 members, of whom about 20 have to be
fetched by car. The Rookery Club has a membershop of 54, all of
whom are mobile. Both Clubs had half-day outings and full days by
the sea and local organisations have been very generous with their
entertainment.
There is a constant demand for the loan of wheel-chairs and
medical equipment.
Old people are visited in hospital and in their own homes. The
Centre receives many requests for this service from the Geriatric
Almoner of Orpington Hospital. The Centre undertakes a regular
service two days a week for bringing old people to visit their relatives
in both Orpington and Farnborough Hospitals. Old people are also
taken to shop, to visit Opticians, Chiropodists, etc., and several regular
clients have to be taken to the Chest Clinic in Bromley.
In all, 380 car escorts have been undertaken during the year,
which include visits to London Specialists, Convalescent Homes in
Essex and Sussex, to the Kent coast, and to New Cross Hospital for