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130
birthday in 1966, and the members of the club were congratulated
in building a firm foundation for the future. The Welfare Services
Sub-Committee pays the rental of the room at the Melvin Hall,
Penge, where the club holds its meetings at fortnightly intervals.
In addition, a grant of £25 is made annually to help club activities.
66. The Bromley branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society which
was formed in March, 1966, has developed its activities during the
year. With the support of the national body, ambitious plans are
being made for the benefit of persons with multiple sclerosis. A
senior social welfare officer serves on the Executive Committee of
the local branch.
WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND
PARTIALLY SIGHTED
Certification
67. 100 persons were examined for the first time by consultant
ophthalmologists during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1967,
and a further 30 re-examinations were made. The total fees paid
amounted to £528 10s. 3d. First examinations accounted for
£435 10s. 3d. of this amount, and the remainder, £93, was for
re-examinations. Eight persons were considered not to be certifiable
as blind or partially sighted and their names placed on the
Observation List.
Register of the Blind
68. After adjustments for new registrations, transfers and deletions
from the register, there were 474 persons on the register on the
31st March, 1967—a net increase of three on the previous year.
The number of registered blind males fell from 164 at 31st March,
1966, to 157 on 31st March. 1967, whilst the number of registered
blind females rose from 307 to 317 during the same period. If the
number of registered blind persons per head of population in the
London Borough of Bromley was to conform to the pattern of the
national register, there would be an increase of 154.
Distribution in Age Groups (Blind Persons)
69. There was no change in the group 0-5 ((1), but there were
increases in the age groups 6-15 (8-9), 16-20 (8-9), 50 and over
(399-405) and a decrease of 5 persons in the group 21-49 (55-50).
Over the 12-month period there was no significant increase or
decrease in any group. The national statistics indicate that the
registration of persons over 70 will continue to increase due to
more people enjoying a longer span of life. At the other end of
the scale the trend is for the number of children under 10 registered
as blind to rise; regrettably some of these children will have handicaps
additional to defective vision. As medical knowledge increases
the survival rate of multiple-handicapped children will be higher.