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

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Willesden 1960

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]

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The standard charge for the service is 4/- if one foot is treated, or 8/- for treatment of both feet.
The treatment is free to old people in receipt of national assistance and those whose weekly income does not
exceed £5 per week for a single person or £8 per week for husband and wife. One half of the standard
charge is made to all other old people in receipt of retirement pensions, but if they feel they cannot afford to
pay, they may apply for the charge to be reduced or waived.
The Association still pays for treatments which cost £758 in the financial year ending 31st March,
1961. The Willesden Old People's Welfare Committee gave a grant of £250 towards the cost and a substantial
grant is expected from the County Council.
On the recommendation of the Welfare Officer, free coal was supplied to old people who could not
afford it, and financial assistance was given to several of the housebound for their wireless licences.
The branch club at St. Martin's Church Hall, Kensal Rise, opened in January, 1955, meets every
Wednesday afternoon from 2-4 p.m. An average of 50 old people attend each week. The club is selfsupporting,
but the Association pays the rent of the hall. Members went for day trips in the summer to
Bognor and Southend. The club has a very good selection of books given by the Borough Librarian.
Many high teas and birthday parties were held.
The Willesden Division of the British Red Cross Society, Women's Voluntary Service, religious and
other organisations in the area run clubs for the old folk, arrange outings and their members visit them
in their own homes.
The meals-on-wheels service organised by the W.V.S. is probably the most important service for old
people. The service was extended in 1960 with the additional equipment provided by the Borough Council
and transport provided by the Willesden Old People's Welfare Committee. 10,793 meals were prepared and
delivered compared with 10,000 in 1959. Only two meals a week are supplied to each person; the aim is to
give a hot meal to old people five days a week in all parts of the borough. 140 old people who were being
helped by the meals-on-wheels service received a free Christmas dinner and another 140 received Christmas
parcels.
Willesden Old People's Welfare Committee
The Willesden Old People's Welfare Committee was formed in April, 1958. The Committee has a
membership of 19, 10 representing the Willesden Borough Council, 2 the Middlesex County Council, and 7
representing Willesden organisations concerned with the welfare of old people. A full-time Welfare Officer and
an assistant work together with statutory bodies and voluntary associations and organise services for the aged.
One of these is the assisted holiday scheme for old people to go for a fortnight to the seaside during
the summer months at a cost of £2 per week (including fare). Accommodation and travel to holiday homes
or private guest houses is arranged with the choice of the most popular resorts; 235 old people had holidays
from June to September. A holiday for five lonely old people was also arranged at the holiday homes at
Christmas and several other lonely ones received invitations from families willing to have them during the
festive season.
Three luncheon clubs which open on Tuesdays and Thursdays were started during the year: at
Granville Hall, Granville Road. N.W.6, on 26th April, Harley Hall, Harley Road, N.W.10, on 8th September,
and St. Martin's Church Hall, Mortimer Road, N.W.10, on 8th November. By arrangement with the
Middlesex County Council the meals are cooked at a school-meals centre and delivered by transport provided
by the committee to the three clubs in insulated containers. The meal, including sweet, costs the old
people 1s. 3d. and a total of 4,480 were served by the end of the year. The old people enjoy a good, hot,
well-cooked meal and the opportunity of meeting friends.
For those who can get out, there are many clubs where they can find companionship and, to assist
some of these clubs and attract more members, the committee arranged for professional entertainers to visit
eleven of them one afternoon each month during the winter. This service is greatly appreciated by the
members, and supplements the summer entertainment provided in the parks.
At Christmas nearly 1,000 food parcels or vouchers were distributed to the over 70's who were in need.
The committee spent £500 on this service.
The problems which are brought to the office are varied and numerous and a large number of
cases are referred by hospitals when an old person is about to be sent home. Much visiting and case work
is carried out and the following figures show the growth of the work:—
1959 I960
Office interviews 715 1,139
Home visits 826 1,043
In addition, 350 visits were paid to elderly persons where, on the basis of the registrar's returns, they
had suffered the loss of a partner.
The building of two centres has commenced and will be completed in the coming year. Once these
are open an extension of the meals and other services will be possible.
On the recommendation of the Welfare Organiser. 29 wireless sets were supplied to the bedridden
by wireless for the Bedridden Society.
All the above services are financed from a grant of £5,495 which the Council set aside for the
committee's use in 1960/61.
BURIAL OF THE DEAD
In accordance with the provisions of section 50 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, arrangements
were made for the burial of eight persons during the year, at a cost of £98 15s. 7d., £56 1s. 6d. being
recovered from the relatives.