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APPENDIX 2
WELFARE OF THE AGED
Although the National Health Service Act 1946 places the
responsibility for care of the aged upon the County Council as
local health Authority, this is quite obviously not a matter which
should be divorced from the activities of the Borough Council.
Indeed, the Southgate Borough Council, either directly or through
those voluntary bodies in which it has evinced a constant interest,
has long been active in the welfare of the aged. It is for this
reason that I append herewith a brief report of action I have taken
in this connection, primarily as Area Medical Officer. The action
might be summarised as follows :
(i) A letter to voluntary welfare organisations in the district.
This letter asks voluntary organisations to let us have full
information relating to any case of hardship occurring in an
elderly person, where either the Public Department or the Area
Health Office might be able to help. Although it would be true
to say that voluntary bodies have been most co-operative in
letting us have such information as came into their possession,
I am still of opinion that occasional cases of hardship, sometimes
of a most distressing nature, do occur among eldely people without
the circumstances ever coming to our knowledge. It is this
unfortunate happening which I hope at least to mitigate by the
circular letter mentioned above.
(ii) A medical memorandum addressed to the Superintendent
Health Visitor, Superintendent of Home Nurses and
Home Help Organiser.
This memorandum asks the ladies mentioned above to make
quite certain that members of their staffs are fully cognisant of
the need to supply us with full information relating to old people,
whenever additional help appears to be required.
(iii) A circular letter to general practitioners.
Here again, I have asked general practitioners to let us have
such information as they obtain in regard to patients.
(iv) A letter to the County Medical Officer, the Area Welfare
Officer and Highlands Hospital.
These letters bring to the notice of the County Medical
Officer, the Area Welfare Officer and Highlands Hospital (the
most co-operative hospital so far as Southgate is concerned) the
various circular letters set out under (i), (ii) and (iii) above.
This course was felt desirable, so that everyone might know what
was going on and could therefore be in a better position to
co-operate.
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