View report page

The pool attendants add chloride of lime to the pools each evening in quantities
prescribed, to give an estimated free chlorine content of 0.15 p.p.m. Sufficient
washing soda is also added to maintain a pH reaction of 8.0.
In addition, the pools are scrubbed out weekly with chloride of lime paste. The
results of these measures has been a consistent improvement in the purity and
appearance of the water.
Old People's Welfare.
The local Old People's Welfare Committee, which covers the whole range of welfare
work for old people, is a standing committee of the Woolwich Council of Social
Service, and on it are represented the various statutory and voluntary bodies concerned
with the welfare of old people. Amongst the bodies represented on the
Committee are the Women's Voluntary Service, the British Red Cross Society, Toc H,
the Rotary Club, the Soroptimists Club, the National Federation of Old Age Pensions
Association, local Church organisations, the Borough Council, the London County
Council, the National Assistance Board and the local hospitals.
The work of the Health Department connected with old people's welfare has
continued to expand during 1953, an increasing proportion of time being spent by
the officers of the Department concerned in dealing with the problems of old people.
In no case was it necessary to remove an elderly person compulsorily under the
powers contained in the National Assistance Act, 1948. However, a number of
old people were removed to hospitals and institutions on a voluntary basis, and
those old people who were found to be in need of help were provided with assistance
in one form or another, and so were able to continue to live at home under improved
conditions.
Meals Service.
There are two lunch clubs for old people, the Plumstead and Eltham Lunch Clubs,
serving a total of approximately 500 meals per week. At the Plumstead Lunch Club
meals are supplied by the Borough Council restaurant at the Plumstead Baths and
taken in containers to the lunch club where voluntary workers serve the food and
wait on the old people. At Eltham, the meals are transported by the Borough
Council from the County Council restaurant in Eltham High Street to the lunch
club. The Borough Council makes a financial grant to this service, and financial
assistance is also given by the County Council towards the total cost of the meal
Holidays.
A large number of applications have been received from old people living in the
Borough for inclusion in the holidays scheme. For some years there has been a
holiday scheme in the Borough operated on a small scale by the Woolwich Council
of Social Service. During 1953, additional money was made available for the
purpose of providing holidays for old people, and 43 old persons were able to enjoy
a holiday at seaside resorts. The Borough Council's Health Committee have
general oversight over the holiday scheme, but the detailed arrangements are left
entirely to the Old People's Welfare Committee, who are responsible for deciding
which of the applicants are most deserving of a holiday. It was decided at the
outset that where the Old People's Welfare Committee were satisfied that no contribution,
however small, should be made by the applicant, the full cost ought to be
met from the holiday fund as the Health Committee considered that no one should
miss a holiday because of lack of means, although where they could contribute they
would be expected to do so. During 1953, all the old people went for a fortnight,
except three persons who requested a week's holiday only. Each old person contributed
10s. 0d. to 15s. 0d. for each week's stay towards the charges, and in some
cases the cost of the fares also. Letters of appreciation have been received from
several people who went away. It is anticipated that during 1954 several more old
people will be able to have a holiday under these arrangements.
Visiting Service.
There exists in the Borough a scheme for the visiting of old people by voluntary
workers. In order to supplement this work, the Old People's Welfare Committee
22