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88
Club Activities
In addition to the valuable work done by the British Red Cross
Society in running clubs for the disabled, I am pleased to record that
two clubs have been initiated by social welfare officers of the
department. The good Companions Club at Penge has been active
for two years and in May, 1967, the Orpington Younger Handicapped
Persons Club was started. Here, young disabled people
meet to enjoy the social activities and are assisted by the social
workers.
WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND
PARTIALLY SIGHTED
Certification
Consultant ophthalmologists carried out 156 examinations
during the 12 months ended 31st March, 1968. 122 persons were
examined for the first time and 34 were re-examined. Fees paid
amounted to £622 6s. 6d.; first examinations accounted for
£518 10s. 6d. of this amount and the remaining £103 16s. Od. was
for re-examinations. As a result, 78 persons were added to the blind
register, 46 persons placed on the partially sighted register and 9
persons had their names included on the observation list . Approximately,
one quarter of the persons examined suffered from cataract.
Register of the Blind
After making adjustments for new registrations, transfers and
deletions from the register, there were 490 persons on the register
at 31st March 1968, an increase of 16 on the previous year. The
number of registered blind men rose from 157 at 31st March, 1967,
to 164 on 31st March, 1968, whilst the number of registered blind
women increased from 317 to 326 during the same period.
Distribution in Age Groups (Blind Persons)
At 31st March, 1968, there were five children under the age
of fifteen registered as blind. 13 persons were in the age group
16 to 20; 51 persons in the group 21 to 49 and the remaining 421
came in the 50 and over age group. The three older age groups
show slight increases on last year's figures.
The national statistics indicate that there will be a temporary
increase in the number of blind teenagers. This is due to the
children suffering from rentrolental fibroplasia (blindness caused
by excessive oxygen) moving into a higher age group. As far as
the elderly are concerned there will be an increase in the number
of persons over 70 who are registered as blind if present trends
continue.